Government of Tamilnadu

Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group I, II & IIA Prelims Exam

Subject : Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Topic : Impact of Social Reform movements in the Socio -
Economic Development of TamilNadu.

 Copyright
The Department of Employment and Training has prepared the TNPSC Group-I, II & IIA Preliminary
study material in the form of e-content for the benefit of Competitive Exam aspirants and it is being
uploaded in this Virtual Learning Portal. This e-content study material is the sole property of the
Department of Employment and Training. No one (either an individual or an institution) is allowed to
make copy or reproduce the matter in any form. The trespassers will be prosecuted under the Indian
Copyright Act.
It is a cost-free service provided to the job seekers who are preparing for the Competitive
Exams.

Commissioner,
Department of Employment and Training

Impact of Social Reform movements
in the Socio - Economic
Development of TamilNadu.
The Justice Party rule in the Madras
Presidency constitutes an important chapter in
the history of South India. The ideology and
objectives of the Justice Party had been unique
and somewhat different from those of the
Congress Party. The Justice Party represented
the Non-Brahmin Movement and engineered
a social revolution against the domination of
Brahmins in the sphere of public services and
education.
Birth of the Justice Party
Various factors had contributed to
the formation of the Justice Party, which
represented the Non-Brahmin Movement.
The social dominance of the Brahmins was
the main cause for the emergence of the Non-
Brahmin Movement. Their high proportion
in the Civil Service, educational institutions
and also their predominance in the Madras
Legislative Council caused a great worry
among the non- Brahmins. The Brahmins had
also monopolized the Press. The rediscovery
of the greatness of the Tamil language and
literature also provided a stimulus to the non-
Brahmins. Particularly, the publication of the
book entitled A Comparative Grammar of the
Dravidian or South Indian Family of Languages
by Rev. Robert Caldwell in 1856 gave birth to
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
the Dravidian concept. Later the ancient Tamil
literature had been rediscovered and printed
by various Tamil scholars including Arumuga
Navalar, C.V.Damodaram Pillai and U.V.
Swaminatha Iyer. V. Kanakasabhai Pillai in his
famous historical work, The Tamils 1800 Years
Ago pointed out that Tamils had attained a
high degree of civilization before the Advent
of the Aryans. This led to the growth of
Dravidian feelings among the non-Brahmins.
These factors collectively contributed to the
birth of the Non-Brahmin Movement and the
Justice Party.
The precursor of the Justice Party was the
Madras United League which was renamed
as the Madras Dravidian Association in
November 1912. Dr.C.Natesa Mudaliar played
a significant role in nurturing this organization.
In 1916 the South Indian Liberal Federation
was formed for the purpose of ‘promoting the
political interests of non-Brahmin caste Hindus’.
The leaders who stood behind the formation
of this organization were Pitti Theagaraya
Chetti, Dr.T.M. Nair, P.Ramarayaninger (Raja
of Panagal) and Dr. C. Natesa Mudaliar. The
South Indian Liberal Federation published an
English newspaper called Justice and hence
this organization came to be called the Justice


Party. The other news paper which supported
the Justice Party was Dravidan (in Tamil).
Besides, the Justice Party organized a series
of public meetings, conferences, lectures to
popularise Non- Brahmin movement. Similarly,
the Justice Party formed District Associations,
the Non-Brahmin Youth League.
The Justice Movement
The Justice Party’s rule in the
Madras Presidency constitutes
an important chapter in the
history of South India. The
Justice Party represented the
Non-Brahmin movement and
engineered a social revolution against the
domination of Brahmins in the sphere of public
services and education.
The Justice Party, officially known as South
Indian Liberal Federation was a political party
in the Madras Presidency of
British India. This party was
established in 1916 by T.M.
Nair and Thiyagaraya Chetty.
During its early eyars, the party
involved in petitioning to the
imperial administrative bodies demanding
more representation for non-Brahmins in
administration. This party published
‘Dravidian’ in Tamil, ‘Andhra Prakasika’ in
Telugu and ‘Justice’ in English. Hence it came
to be called as the ‘Justice Party’.
Justice Party Rule
The Justice Party came to power following
the election of 1920 held according to the
Montague-Chelmsford Reforms. The Justice
Party captured sixty three out of ninety
eight elected seats in the Madras Legislative
Council. As Pitti Theagaraya Chetti declined
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
to lead the ministry, A.Subbarayalu Reddiar
formed the ministry. In the election of 1923
it fought against the Swarajya Party. The
Justice Party again won the majority and the
ministry was formed by Raja of Panagal. In the
election of 1926 a divided Justice Party faced
the opposition of a united Congress. Therefore,
an independent, A.Subbarayan with the help
of the Swarajya Party formed the ministry.
In 1930 when the next election was held the
Justice Party won the majority and formed a
ministry with B. Muniswami Naidu as the
leader. In 1932 Raja of Bobbili replaced him as
Prime Minister of the Presidency. In 1934 Raja
of Bobbili formed his second ministry, which
continued in power until the election of 1937.
Then Justice party came under the leadership
of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy and his self-respect
movement. In 1944 at Salem conference.
Periyar transformed the Justice Party into a
social organization called Dravidar Kazhagam
and withdrew it from the electoral politics.
There were many causes for its failure.
 The Justice Party came to power
when the world was in economic
depression.
 The Nationalist Movement was
popular and heading for freedom.
 Caste and Wealth played vital role.
Hence the party lost its hold.
 The rise of Congress under the
Thus the Justice Party lost its vitality after a
few years of its existence.
Achievements of the Justice
Party
The Justice Party remained in power for
a period of thirteen years. Its administration
was noted for social justice and social reform.


Justice rule gave adequate representation
to non-Brahman communities in the public
services. It improved the status of depressed
classes through education reforms. Justice
Party introduced following reforms in the field
of Education :
1. Free and compulsory education was
introduced for the first time in Madras.
2. Nearly 3000 fisher boys and fisher girls
were offered free special instruction by
the Department of Fisheries.
3. Midday Meals was given at selected
corporation schools in Madras.
4. The Madras Elementary Education Act
was amended in 1934 and in 1935 to
improve elementary education.
5. The Education of girls received
encouragement during the Justice rule in
Madras.
6. Education of the Depressed Classes was
entrusted with Labour Department.
7. Encouragement was given to Ayurveda,
Siddha and Unani medical education.
The government took over the power of
appointing district munsiffs out of the control
of the High Court. The Communal G.O.s
(Government Orders) of 1921 and 1922 provided
for the reservation of appointments in local
bodies and educational institutions for non-
Brahmin communities in increased proportion.
The Staff Selection Board, created by the
Panagal Ministry in 1924, was made the Pubic
Service Commission in 1929. It was the first of
its kind in India. The women were granted the
right to vote on the same basis as was given to
men. The Hindu Religious Endowment Act of
1921, enacted by the Panagal Ministry, tried
to eliminate corruption in the management of
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
temples. Justice Party Government introduced
economic reforms. To assist the growth of
industries State Aid to Industries Act, 1922 was
passed. This led to the establishment of new
industries such as : sugar factories, engineering
works, tanneries, aluminium factories, cement
factories and oil milling so on. This act provided
credits to industries, allotted land and water.
This proved favourable for industrial progress.
Similarly, Justice Party Government
introduced schemes for rural development
to help agrarian population, public health
schemes to prevent diseases. To improve
village economy village road scheme was
introduced. In the city of Madras the Town
Improvement Committee of the Madras
Corporation introduced Slum Clearance
and Housing Schemes. As a social welfare
measures the Justice Party Government gave
waste lands in village to Depressed Classes.
The Devadasi system, a disgrace to women,
was abolished. The Justice administration
reorganized the working of the University of
Madras. During the administration of Justice
Party, the Andhra University was established
in 1926 and Annamalai University in 1929.
It inaugurated the era of rural development
through economic and social reforms.
 The Justice Party government set right
the imbalances in the representation
of different communities and improved
the status of Depressed Classes.
 The Communal G.O’s of 1921
and 1922 provided reservation of
appointments in local bodies and
educational institutions for Non-
Brahmins.


 To avoid Nepotism, Favouritism and
other influences in the process of
selection, this government created a
staff selection board in 1924 and it
became the Public Service regulate
the higher educational institutions.
 In 1925 Andhra University and in 1929
Annamalai University were opened.
 To regulate temple accounts, Temple
Committees were created. In 1926
the Hindu Religious Endowment Bill
was passed.
 The Women were granted the right
to vote in 1921, abolished Devadasi
system, prevented immoral traffic of
Women and passed Industries Act.
 The system of giving free pattas
for housing sites to the poor was
introduced.
 By way of introducing mid-day
meal schemes at Thousand lights
Thiyagaraya Chettiar strengthened
the school.
 It gave encouragement to Ayurveda,
Siddha and Unani Medical
Education.
End of Justice Party Rule
The Government of India Act of 1935
provided for provincial autonomy and the
electoral victory meant the assumption of a
major responsibility in the administration
of the province. K. V. Reddi Naidu led the
Justice Party, while C. Rajagopalachari led the
Congress in the South. In the election of 1937,
the Congress captured 152 out of 215 seats in
the Legislative Assembly and 26 out of 46 in the
Legislative Council. In July 1937 the Congress
formed its ministry under C. Rajagopalachari.
Dravidan Movements
Development in in
Administration Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Thus, the rule of Justice Party which introduced
important social legislations came to an end.
In 1944 the Justice party conference was held
in Salem. There Peraringar Anna passed a
resolution thereby the name of justice party
was changed as Dravidar Kazhagam.
During the 19th and 20th centuries great
leaders like V.O.C, Subramaniya Bharathi, Bala
Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal
Nehru, Rajaji were actively involved in the
Freedom Struggle. Some of the great leaders
of Tamilnadu not only fought for political
freedom has no meaning when people are
denied social justice, self respect and dignity.
Self Respect Movement
E.V.Ramasamy Periyar was
the greatest social reformers of
Tamil Nadu. He was the first
leader, the country had ever
seen to inculcate self respect,
rationalism, women liberation
and social equality in the minds of the people.
E.V.Ramasamy was born on September 17,
1879 in Erode in a very rich Hindu family. He
got married at 13th year and renounced his
life in his 19th year. by wearing saintly dress,
he went to many holy places. He went to Kasi
where he noticed that the Brahmins ill-treated
the Non-Brahmins. He condemned it and
returned to Tamilnadu. He joined the Congress
in 1919 to realize his ideas. He was elected as the
Secretary of Madras State Congress Committee
in 1921 and its President in 1923.
He joined the non-cooperation Temple.
Finally the Travancore government relaxed
such segregation and allowed the people to
enter into the temple. Hence Periyar was given
the title of ‘Vaikam Hero’.

 Development Administration in Tamil Nadu

Periyar visited a school on Gurukulam style In 1937 election, the Justice Party was
run at Sheramandevi out of congress funds. He defeated and its decline became inevitable. At
noticed the segregation of Non-Brahmin students Salem conference of 1944, the name of Justice
from the Brahmins by providing drinking Party was changed as ‘Dravidar Kazhagam’.
water and food in separate places. He protested Periyar’s ambitions were fulfilled by DMK and
against this anti-social practice and resigned AIADMK.
the Secretaryship of Madras State Congress. He
moved a resolution for reservation in government Role of Tamil Nadu in the
services for non-brahmins in the state Congress
Freedom Movement Madras
conference held at Kanchipuram. But this was
not allowed. So Periyar left the Conference and
Mahajana Sabha
started Self Respect Movement in 1925 to spread
Association:
and execute his ideas and policies.
Aims
 The self respect movement condemned
and fought against Brahmin
domination over other castes, society,
politics and religion.
 It fought to abolish traditionalism and
superstitions
 It advocated women education, widow
remarriage, intercaste marriages and
opposed child marriage.
It was established by Harley, Lakshmi
Achievements
narasu Chetty and Srinivasa Pillai in 1852. The
Periyar criticized the meaningless ideas,
Association criticized the policies of the East
superstitious beliefs and unbelievable puranic
India company. In 1884, the Madras Native
stories in the public meetings. He spread self
Association was merged with the Madras
respect principles through Kudiarasu, Puratchi,
Mahajana Sabha established by S.Ramaswami
Viduthalai. He also published some books
Mudhaliar, P.Anandacharlu and P.Rangaiah
against social evils propagated 14 points of the
Naidu. The Sabha functioned at the office
Socialists Manifesto. The Justice Party accepted
of ‘The Hindu’, Ellis Road Junction, Mount
the same and tried to propagated it.
Road.
In order to check the growing population and
P.Rangaiah Naidu was elected first
to keep good health, he suggested the family
President of the Sabha. The Sabha adopted a
planning. He also encouraged Tamil Script
moderate policy in its early days. However,
reform and suggested to adopt Roman Script to
its aims and the objectives were considered
ensure easy learning. He was given the title of
seditious. In Dec 1895, on his visit to Madras,
‘Periyar’ by Ladies Conference held at Madras.
the Viceroy of India, Lord Elgin refused to



receive the welcome address from the Madras
Mahajana Sabha.
Madras Mahajana Sabha was considered
to be a unique one that paved the way for our
national freedom. The Sabha voiced out the
fundamental rights of our countrymen. It had
developed very close relationship with the
Indian National Congress since 1920 onwards.
Consequently in 1930, the Sabha organized
the Salt Satyagraha movement on April 22nd
in Madras George town, Esplanade, the High
court and beach areas. The members were
attacked savagely by the British police. As
the Sabha insisted on a legal enquiry about
the injustice done towards the participants of
the enquired thirty people and submitted its
report to the government.
When the British Government banned
the Congress party, Madras Mahajana Sabha
conducted numerous exhibitions to instigate
the partriotic feelings in the hearts of our
countrymen such as All India Khadi Exhibition
and Swadeshi Exhibition.
The father of our nation-Mahatma Gandhiji
had delivered a speech at the meeting of
Mahajana Sabha on Oct 24th 1896. Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru also had participated in the
golden Jubilee celebrations of the Sabha.
Tamil Nadu in the Indian National
Movement
Tamil Nadu played an important role in the
Indian National Movement. Even prior to the
Great Revolt of 1857, the rebellion in Panchalam
Kuruchi, the 1801 “South Indian Rebellion” of
the Marudu brothers and the Vellore Mutiny
of 1806 were the early anti-colonial struggles in
Tamil Nadu. During the nationalist era Tamil
Nadu provided the leaders like G. Subramania
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Iyer, V.O.C. Chidambaram Pillai, Subramania
Bharathi, C. Rajagopalachari and K. Kamaraj
to the National Movement. Besides, the
nationalist movement in Tamil Nadu was as
active as elsewhere.
Beginning of the National Movement
in Tamil Nadu
The earliest political organisation, the
Madras Native Association was started in July
1852. Lakshminarasu Chetty and Srinivasa
Pillai were the founders of this organization.
The Madras Native Association was sharply
critical of the policies of the East India
Company’s rule. Subsequently in 1884, the
Madras Mahajana Sabha was established by
P. Anandacharlu and P. Rangaiya Naidu. The
Madras Native Association was ultimately
merged with this organization.
The Madras Mahajana Sabha strongly
supported the activities of the Indian National
Congress. It had also initiated social reform. G.
Subramania Iyer performed the remarriage of
his widowed daughter in December 1889. He
moved the first resolution in the first session
of the Indian National Congress in 1885. He
started the nationalist papers like The Hindu
in English and Swadeshamitran in Tamil. In
1892, the Madras Provincial Conference was
started to mobilize people in the rural areas
of Tamil Nadu. The third session of the Indian
National Congress was held in Madras in 1887
under the presidentship of Fakruddin Thyabji.
Later a number of such annual sessions were
also held in the city of Madras.
Swadeshi Movement in Tamil Nadu
The Partition of Bengal in 1905 led to the
beginning of Swadeshi Movement in Tamil
Nadu. During this period the important


leaders of the National Movement were –
V.O.Chidambaram Pillai, Subramania Siva and
Subramania Bharathi. In May 1907 Bharathi
brought Bipin Chandra Pal one of the leaders
of extremists in the Congress to Madras city.
After the Surat split in 1907, V.O.C and fellow
nationalists started the Chennai Jana Sangam.
Subramania Bharathi was a non-conformist,
unorthodox and a revolutionary in social and
political ideas. He edited the Tamil Weekly
India. He wrote nationalist songs called the
Swadesa Geethangal. V.O.Chidambaram
Pillai was a lawyer by professionand he joined
the nationalist movement in 1905. He was a
follower of Bal Ganghadar Tilak. He led the
Coral Mill Strike in February 1908 in Tuticorin.
In 1906 he launched the Swadeshi Steam
Navigation Company in Tuticorin. Hence
he was called Kappalottiya Tamilan. There
was competition between Swadeshi Steam
Navigation Company and British India Steam
Navigation Company. V.O.C advocated the
boycott of the British India Steam Navigation
Company and this had resulted in the
Tirunelveli uprising in March 1908. He was
ably assisted by Subramania Siva. Both were
arrested and imprisoned. They served six
years rigorous imprisonment. They were given
harsh punishment inside the prison. V.O.C
was asked to draw an oil press and hence he is
known as Chekkilutta Chemmal.
The arrest of the nationalist leaders, harsh
punishment for the nationalist leaders inside the
prison and the collapse of the Swadeshi Steam
Navigation Company led to the formation
of a revolutionary organization in Tamil
Nadu called the Bharathamatha Association.
Nilakanta Bramachari played a vital role in it.
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
One of the followers of this association Vanchi
Nathan shot dead the notorious British official
Robert William Ashe at Maniyatchi junction in
June 1911.
Home Rule Movement in Tamil Nadu
The Home rule Movement in Madras was
organized by Mrs. Annie Besant between 1916
and 1918. The first indication of Annie Besant’s
decision to launch a Home Rule Movement
appeared in New India in September 1915.
Besant sought the support of the Indian National
Congress at its annual meeting at Bombay in
December, 1915. She was supported in her
movement by Tilak. Home Rule Movement
was vigorous during the First World War.
Non-co-operation Movement
In Tamil Nadu the Non-co-operation
Movement was strong during the years
1921—23. Beginning in March 1921 there were
campaigns of Non-Cooperation against the
foreign regulations. In 1921 and 1922 there were
campaigns against the consumption of liquor
in many parts of the province. Temperance
campaign was particularly prominent in
Madurai. Non- Cooperation had been a
success in Tamil Nadu. C. Rajagopalachari, S.
Satyamurthi and E. V. Ramaswami Naicker
were the important leaders of the Non-
Cooperation Movement in Tamil Nadu.
At that time E.V.Ramaswami Naicker was
the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress
Committee. C. Rajagopalachari stressed that
the council boycott was a central part of the
Gandhian Programme. However, this view
was not shared by Kasturi Ranga Iyengar,
Srinivasa Iyengar, Varadarajulu Naidu and
Vijayaraghavachari. In the meantime, Periyar
E.V.R launched the Vaikom Satyagraha in Kerala


against the practice of social segregation. Later
he resigned from the Congress and came out
on the social segregation issue at Seramandevi
Guru Kulam of V.V.S. Iyer. S. Satyamurthi of
Pudukkottai was one of the important freedom
fighters. He led the anti-Simon Campaign in
1929 when the Simon Commission visited
Tamil Nadu. The other important nationalist
leader was K.Kamaraj from Virudhunagar.
He participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha in
1924 and thus entered nationalist movement.
He was the vice-president and treasurer of the
Ramnad District Congress Committee in 1929.
From the beginning, Kamaraj was the man
of the masses. He spoke in simple and direct
language. He had a sound common sense and
practical wisdom. He was fully aware of the
rural Tamil Nadu. He visited each and every
village and understood the different problems
of the masses. He always identified himself
with the common man of Tamil Nadu. Thus,
he really brought the Congress movement to
the villages in Tamil Nadu.
Salt Satyagraha
As part of the Civil Disobedience Movement,
Gandhi launched the Salt Satyagraha.
He undertook the Dandi March in 1930.
C.Rajagopalachari became the TNCC president
in April 1930. Authorized by TNCC and AICC
to direct the Salt Satyagraha in Tamil Nadu
Rajaji undertook the famous Vedaranyam
Salt Satyagraha March. He selected the
route from Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam
in Thanjauvr district. The March began on
Tamil New Year’s Day (13th April). The
March reached Vedaranyam on 28 April 1930.
Two days later Rajagopalachari was arrested
for breaking the salt laws. Some of the other
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
important leaders who participated in the
Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha were T.S.S.Rajan,
Mrs. Lakshmipathi Sardar Vedaratnam Pillai,
C. Swaminatha Chetty and K.Santhanam.
Tiruppur Kumaran who led the flag march was
fatally beaten. Since he guarded the national
flag in his hands he was called Kodi Kaththa
Kumaran. Commemorating his sacrifice the
Government of India issued a postal stamp in
his honour.
Similarly, the National Movement was
encouraged by songs composed by Namakkal
Kavinjar Ramalingam Pillai. In his songs he
praised the Gandhian methods in the struggle
for freedom. He sang that “a war is coming
without knife and blood”. This highlighted
the Gandhian principle of non-violent struggle
against the British.
Quit India Movement
Later, in 1937 when elections were held in
accordance with the 1935 Act, Congress won
the elections and formed the ministry in Madras
headed by C. Rajagopalachari. There were nine
other ministers in his cabinet. The ministry
was in power from July 1937 to October 1939.
The ministry had resigned along with other
Congress ministries in the different provinces
over the issue of the Indian involvement in the
Second World War. During Second War, after
the failure of the Cripps’s Proposals Gandhi
had launched the Quit India Movement. In
Tamil Nadu Quit India Movement drew the
factory workers, students and common people.
It was a wide spread movement.
The Buckingham & Carnatic Mills, Port Trust
and the Tramway workers joined the movement
in large numbers. Quit India Movement was
launched in places like North Arcot, Madurai
10
 Development Administration in Tamil Nadu

and Coimbatore. There was police firing at when India attained independence on 15th
Rajapalayam, Karaikudi and Devakottai. August, 1947 the Madras Government under
Besides, Subhash Bose’s INA had many men O.P. Ramaswami Reddiar passed a resolution
and women soldiers from Tamil Nadu. Finally, appreciating the Indian Independence Act.

•••

11
 Government of Tamilnadu
Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group I, II & IIA Prelims Exam

Subject : Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Topic : Political parties and Welfare schemes for various sections of people

 Copyright
The Department of Employment and Training has prepared the TNPSC Group-I, II & IIA Preliminary
study material in the form of e-content for the benefit of Competitive Exam aspirants and it is being
uploaded in this Virtual Learning Portal. This e-content study material is the sole property of the
Department of Employment and Training. No one (either an individual or an institution) is allowed to
make copy or reproduce the matter in any form. The trespassers will be prosecuted under the Indian
Copyright Act.
It is a cost-free service provided to the job seekers who are preparing for the Competitive
Exams.

Commissioner,
Department of Employment and Training
 Development Administration in Tamil Nadu

Political parties and Welfare

schemes for
various sections of people

Political parties in T.N

Foundation
S.No Name Abbreviation States / UT
Year
1. All India Anna Dravida Puducherry,
AIADMK 1972
Munnetra Kazhagam Tamil Nadu
2. Desiya Murpokku
DMDK 2005 Tamil Nadu
Dravida Kazhagam
3. Dravida Munnetra Puducherry,
DMK 1949
Kazhagam Tamil Nadu
4. Puducherry,
Pattali Makkal Katchi PMK 1989
Tamil Nadu
5. Marumalarchi Dravida
MDMK 1994 Tamil Nadu
Munnetra Kazhagam

Populist schemes in TN  Transport Corporations established.

1967 - 1969
 “Madras” State was renamed as
“Tamil Nadu”.
 Act to provide legal status to the Self-
respect Marriages.
 Two language formula providing for
Tamil and English.
 Surrender of Earned Leave and
its encashment for Government
Servants.
1969 - 1971
 Nationalisation of Transport.
 Electricity to all the villages.
 Link roads to all the villages having a
population of 1500.
 Slum Clearance Board.
 Drinking Water Supply and Drainage
Board.
 Free Eye camps Scheme.
 Beggars Rehabilitation Scheme.
 Abolition of Hand-pulled Rickshaws and
free distribution of Cycle Rickshaws.
 Free Concrete Houses for Scheduled
Castes and Tribes.



 Act to provide conferment of ownership
of house-sites (Kudiyiruppu Act); Act
fixing fair wages to farm labourers.
 Police Commission – First in India.
 Separate Ministry for Backward
Classes and Scheduled Castes.
 Constitution of the Backward Classes
Commission and increasing the
quantum of reservation for Backward
Classes to 31 percent from 25 percent
and for Scheduled Castes to 18
percent from 16 percent.
 Free Education to all upto P.U.C..
 May Day declared as a Holiday with
wages.
 Birthday of “NabigalNayagam”
declared as a Holiday.
1971 - 1976
 First Agricultural University at
Coimbatore
 Family Benefit Fund Scheme to
Government Employees
 Confidential Reports on Government
servants abolished.
 Free Housing Scheme
Fishermen.
 “KarunaiIllam” in Temples for
children.
 Salem Steel Plant.
 Land Ceiling Act, fixing 15 standard
acres as the ceiling.
 Second Mine-Cut and Electricity
Scheme at Neyveli.
 Petroleum and Industrial Chemicals
at Thoothukudi.
 Small Industries Development
Corporation (SIDCO).
 SIPCOT Complexes.
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
 Inclusion of Urdu Speaking Muslims
in the list of Backward Classes, like
Tamil Speaking Muslims.
 Abolition of Land Tax on dry lands.
 “Manu NeethiThittam”.
 Poompuhar Shipping Corporation.
 “KonguVellalar” included in the list
of Backward Classes.
 Green Revolution.
1989 - 1991
 20 per cent separate reservation for
Most Backward Classes including
Vanniar and Seer Marabinar.
 18 per cent separate reservation for
Scheduled Castes and 1 per cent for
Scheduled Tribes.
 Free Education to Most Backward
Classes and subject to income ceiling
to Backward Classes upto Degree level.
 Free Education to Scheduled Castes
and subject to income ceiling to
women upto Degree level.
 Free Electricity to Farmers – First
time in the Country.
to  Law for equal property rights to women.
 30 per cent reservation for women in
Government services.
 First Veterinary and Animal Sciences
University – First in Asia.
 Financial Assistance to poor girls for
marriages.
 Financial Assistance to Widows for
remarriages.
 Financial Assistance to encourage
inter-caste marriages.
 Direct Paddy procurement centres.
 Incentive and payment of cart-hire
charges for procurement from farmers.


 Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation
established.
 Financial assistance to pregnant
women.
 Wage hike for Government employees
on par with the Central Government
Employees with retrospective effect.
 Women’s Self-Help groups benefiting
10 lakh women.
 Manonmaniam Sundaranar
University.
 PavendharBharathidasan University.
 Dr. M.G.R. Medical University.
 Efforts to set up Cauvery Tribunal.
1996 - 2001
 Within six months after assuming
office, elections for local bodies and
cooperatives.
 33 per cent reservation for women in
local bodies – by which 44,143 women
including 2 Women Mayors assumed
office; of the two Women Mayors one
belonged to SC community.
 ‘Madras’ renamed as ‘Chennai’.
 Single window system for admission
in Engineering and Medical
colleges.
 Transparent New Industrial Policy.
 Single window system for obtaining
all licenses for starting industries.
 Improved roads, new bridges.
 Concrete streets in villages.
 Desilting of rivers, tanks and canals
in an unprecedented scale.
 24 hour Primary Health Centres.
 For the first time in India, MLA
Constituency Development Fund.
 Protected water for all villages.
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
 15 per cent reservation in professional
courses for rural students.
 Periyar Memorial Samathuvapuram
Scheme to eradicate caste
discrimination.
 Mini Bus Scheme for Rural areas.
 Dr.Ambedkar Law University – First
in India.
 Periyar University in Salem.
 Tamil Virtual University to help world
Tamils.
 Urdu Academy.
 Minorities Economic Development
Corporation.
 Chennai Film City named after MGR,
by changing the name “J.J. Film
City”.
 Farmers Market Scheme.
 VarumunKappom.
 Cattle Protection Scheme.
 VazhvoliThittam in Schools.
 133 feet high Thiruvalluvar Statue in
Kanniyakumari.
 Tidel Park in Chennai.
 Computer Training Scheme for
Government college students.
 Over two lakh families given house
sites in poramboke lands, where they
were living in houses constructed.
 Community Certificate, Nativity
Certificate, Income Certificate
on completion of 10th and 12th
standards from the year 1999-2000.
 Scheme for grant of expenses of
higher education for first three rank
holders in State and District levels
in the 10th and 12th standard
examinations from the year 1996.


 Bus Terminal at Koyambedu in
Chennai – Biggest in Asia.
 Special Scheme for the economic
development of Southern districts.
 Women’s Small Trade Loan Scheme
with saving scheme.
 Separate Welfare Board for
agricultural labour.
 Welfare Boards for
unorganisedlabour.
 Manimandapam for Tamil Scholars
and martyrs.
 Supply of eggs with nutritious meal.
 Construction of over 20 dams.
 New buildings for Collectorates in
nine districts.
 For the first time Bench of High
Court at Madurai; Construction
of buildings for it and for courts in
various districts.
 Free bus passes for students.
 Anna Marumalarchi Scheme.
 NammakuNaame Scheme.
 Indigent Family Welfare Scheme.
 Rs.104 crore new buildings for
Chennal General Hospital.
 Reappointment of 13,000 welfare
workers.
 For the first time 10,000 road workers
appointed.
 Nationalisation of the works of Tamil
scholars.
 Nine fly overs in Chennai.
 350 electricity sub-stations (power)
at Rs. 1500 crores.
 Pension scheme for contract labour.
 Pension Scheme for transport
workers.
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
 New Medical colleges at Vellore,
Tuticorin and Kanniyakumari
districts.
 Tamil Virtual University.
2006 - 2011
 1 Kg. of rice for 1 Rupee.
 Distribution of palm oil, red gram,
black gram, suji, maida and fortified
wheat flour under Special Public
Distribution system at subsidised
rates.
 10 items of provisions at Rs.50.
 Cooperative loan of Rs. 7,000 crores
waived to benefit 22 lakh 40 thousand
and 739 families of farmers.
 No interest on crop loan to farmers
who repay on time.
 Enhanced procurement rice at
Rs.1050/- for common variety of
paddy and Rs.1100/- for fine variety
of paddy per quintal.
 Renewal of 117 old UzhavarSandhais
and 45 new UzhavarSandhais.
 Rs.2000 per tonne of sugarcane,
including transport charges and
incentive to sugarcane farmers.
 Linking of rivers within the State :
Cauvery – Gundaru Linking Project
taken up at a cost of Rs.189 crores.
 Tamirabarani – Karumeniyaru –
Nambiyaru Linking Project taken up
at a cost of Rs.369 crores.
 UnorganisedLabour Welfare Boards
numbering 31 established, including
the Welfare Board for Agricultural
labour and enrolment of 2 crore 2
lakhs 21 thousand 564 members in
the Welfare Boards.


 Disbursement of 616 crores 43
lakhs 44 thousand and 832 rupees
as financial assistance to 13 lakhs
6 thousand 492 members of the
UnorganisedLabour Welfare Boards.
 Free house-sites to 1 crore 58 lakhs
8 thousand and 288 families.
 Kamarajar Birthday celebrated as
“Education Development Day” in all the
schools – A Special Legislation enacted.
 5 Eggs / Bananas per week with
Nutritious Noon Meal.
 Free Bus pass to 24 lakhs 82
thousand school students and 2
lakhs 99 thousand college students
every year.
 Common Entrance Examinations to
Professional Courses scrapped.
 Tamil made a compulsory subject upto
10th Standard in all the schools.
 Central Institute of Classical Tamil
shifted to Chennai from Mysore.
 Kumbhabishekam and renovations
works carried out in 4724 temples
at a cost of Rs.523 crores; during the
current year Kumbhabishekam 1100
temples at a cost of Rs.100 crores.
 10,000 cycles on an estimate of
Rs.277 lakhs, distributed to Archakas
and Poojaris free of cost.
 MoovalurRamamirdhamAmmaiyar
Financial Assistance for marriages of
poor girls increased to Rs.25,000/-
from Rs.10,000/-.
 Financial Assistance of Rs.6000/-
disbursed to each of 20 lakh 11
thousand 517 poor pregnant
women.
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
 A new Medical Insurance Scheme for
Government Servants for providing 2
lakhs worth of medical assistance in
a period 4 years.
 Under “VarumunKappomThittam”
18 thousand 742 camps have been
conducted so far, benefiting 77 lakhs
5 thousand and 8 persons.
 “NalamanaThamizhagamThittam” for
medical check-up to create awareness
in regard to heart disease, diabetics
and cancer.
 Under Kalaignar Insurance Scheme,
2 lakhs 70 thousand 265 poor people
have got their life-saving surgeries at
a cost of Rs.702 crores.
 Free 108 Emergency Ambulance
Scheme with the Central assistance has
benefited 8 lakh 8 thousand 907 persons
so far; Further, lives of 42 thousand 232
persons have been saved.
 25 MoUs have been signed for starting
37 new industries on an investment of
Rs.46,091crores, which would provide
employment opportunities to about 2
lakh 52 thousand 569 persons.
 Monthly doles totaling Rs. 240 crores
have been disbursed so far to 3 lakh 5
thousand 801 educated unemployed
youth.
 New Employment to 4 lakhs 65 thousand
658 youth in Government offices.
 Tidel Parks at Coimbatore, Trichy,
Madurai and Tirunelveli.
 Monthly Maintenance Grant of
Rs.200 increased to Rs.500 for 10
thousand differently abled persons,
who are severely affected.


 So far 4 lakhs 41 thousand 311 Self
Help Groups for Women have been
formed; Loan assistance of Rs.6342
crores has been given to these SHGs
so far.
 Basic infrastructural facilities have
been created in 10 thousand 96 Village
Panchayats at a cost of Rs.2033
crores, under “AnaithuGrama Anna
MarumalarchiThittam”.
 Basic infrastrutural facilities
have been created in 420 Town
Panchayats at a cost of Rs.210
crores, under “AnaithuPeruratchi
Anna MarumalarchiThittam”.
 Improvement and maintenance
works have been carried out on 57
thousand 787 kilometer long roads
at a cost of Rupees 12 thousand 94
crores.
 4,945 Kilometer long roads have
been broadened and converted to
two-lane roads.
 Local Cess, Local Cess Surcharge and
water charges have been scrapped.
A notional tax of Rs.2 per acre of dry
lands and Rs.5 per acre of wet lands
levied as a mark of land-ownership.
 Without increase in tariff 12
thousand 137 new buses plying on
the roads; Further 300 new buses
being added.
 3 per cent separate reservation for
Arunthathiyar Community.
 Persons of any caste can become
Archakas in Temples – Legislation
enacted to establish an equitable
society.
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
 With a view to create a casteless society,
145 PeriyarNinaivuSamathuvapurams
have already been established; 95 new
Samathuvapurams are added.
 World class Anna Centenary Memorial
Library at Kotturpuram-Chennai at a
cost of Rs.171 crores.
 New Secretariat-Assembly Complex
in Omandurar Government Estate at
a cost of Rs.1200 crores.
 Adyar Ecological Research Park
established at a cost of Rs.100 crores.
 “SemmozhiPoonga” in the heart of
Chennai City.
 Desalination of Sea Water Project at
Minjur, North Chennai.
 Desalination of Sear Water Project at
Nemmeli, South Chennai.
 Metro Rail Project at a cost of
Rs.14,600crores with the assistance
of Japan Bank for International
Cooperation.
 Hogenekkal Combined Water Supply
Scheme at a cost of Rs.1929 crores
with the assistance of Japan Bank
for International Cooperation.
 Ramanathapuram – Paramakudi
Combined Water Supply Scheme at a
cost of Rs.630 crores completed.
 TESMA and ESMA scrapped;
Concessions withdrawn from
Government servants and teachers
have been given back to them;
Recommendations of the 6th Pay
Commission have been implemented
with effect from 1.1.2006, on an
annual expenditure of Rs.5,155.79
crores.

 Development Administration in Tamil Nadu

 Kalaignar Housing Schemes for  Equitable Education being

converting 21 lakh huts into concrete implemented.
houses in a period of 6 years.  One Man Commission has been
 Pension for Pressmen increased from appointed for fixing the fee structure
Rs.4000 to Rs.5000 and their family in private schools.
pension increased from Rs.2000 to  The cradle baby scheme
Rs.2500.  Thalikkuthngam
 First World Classical Tamil Conference  AmmaUnavagam
held at Coimbatore in June 2010.  Amma Scheme
 119 new Courts have been opened;  Thai Scheme
Rs. 302 crores allocated for providing  Amma Salt
infrastructural facilities in the Courts.  Amma Cement
 Action has been taken to reduce the  Amma water
pendency of cases, by establishing  Amma Laptop
Evening and Holiday Courts, as per  Amma Mobile
the recommendation of the 13th  Amma Pharmacies
Finance Commission.  Ammamixi and Grinder
 Anna Technical University at Trichy,  Amma Seeds
Madurai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli  Uzhavar scheme
established.  Amma vegetable shop
 Rs. 331 crores allocated for filling  Amma Call Centre
11,307 teacher vacancies and 648
non-teacher vacancies in Government-
Aided Minorities Schools.

•••


 Government of Tamilnadu
Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group I, II & IIA Prelims Exam

Subject : Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Topic : Reservation in India

© Copyright

The Department of Employment and Training has prepared the TNPSC Group I, II &
IIA Preliminary Exam study material in the form of e-content for the benefit of Competitive
Exam aspirants and it is being uploaded in this Virtual Learning Portal. This e-content study
material is the sole property of the Department of Employment and Training. No one (either
an individual or an institution) is allowed to make copy or reproduce the matter in any
form. The trespassers will be prosecuted under the Indian Copyright Act.

It is a cost-free service provided to the job seekers who are preparing for the
Competitive Exams.

Commissioner,
Department of Employment and Training.
 RESERVATION IN INDIA

Introduction

The age-old caste system of India is responsible for the origination of the reservation system in
the country.

In simple terms, it is about facilitating access to seats in the government jobs, educational
institutions, and even legislatures to certain sections of the population.

These sections have faced historical injustice due to their caste identity.

As a quota based affirmative action, the reservation can also be seen as positive discrimination.

In India, it is governed by government policies backed by the Indian Constitution.

Historical Background

William Hunter and Jyotirao Phule in 1882 originally conceived the idea of cast-based
reservation system.

The reservation system that exists today, in its true sense, was introduced in 1933 when British
Prime-Minister Ramsay Macdonald presented the “Communal Award”.

After long negotiations, Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar signed the “Poona Pact”, where it was
decided that there would be a single Hindu electorate with certain reservations in it.

After independence, initially reservations were provided only for SCs and STs.

OBCs were included in the ambit of reservation in 1991 on the recommendations of the Mandal
Commission.

Mandal Commission

❖ In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 340 of the Constitution, the President
appointed a backward class commission in December 1978 under the chairmanship of
B.P. Mandal.
❖ The commission was formed to determine the criteria for defining India’s “Socially
and educationally backward classes” and to recommend steps to be taken for the
advancement of those classes.
❖ The Mandal Commission concluded that India’s population consisted of
approximately 52 percent OBCs, therefore 27% government jobs should be reserved
for them. The commission has developed eleven indicators of social, educational, and
economic backwardness.

Page 1
 ❖ Apart from identifying backward classes among Hindus, the Commission has also
identified backward classes among non-Hindus (e.g., Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and
Buddhists.
❖ It has generated an all-India other backward classes (OBC) list of 3,743 castes and a
more underprivileged “depressed backward classes” list of 2,108 castes.

Indra Sawhney Case of 1992

In the Indra Sawhney Case of 1992, the Supreme Court while upholding the 27 percent quota for
backward classes, struck down the government notification reserving 10% government jobs for
economically backward classes among the higher castes.

Supreme court in the same case also upheld the principle that the combined reservation
beneficiaries should not exceed 50 percent of India’s population.

The concept of “Creamy layer” also gained currency through this judgment and provision that
reservation for backward classes should be confined to initial appointments only and not extend
to promotions.

Recently, the Constitutional (103rd Amendment) Act of 2019 has provided 10%
reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the
“Economically backward” in the unreserved category.

The Act amends Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution by adding clauses empowering the
government to provide reservation on the basis of economic backwardness.

This 10% economic reservation is over and above the 50% reservation cap.

Reservation in India is a government policy, backed by the India Constitution (by

means of various amendments)

Constitutional Provisions Governing Reservation in India

Part XVI deals with reservation of SC and ST in Central and State legislatures.

Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution enabled the State and Central Governments to reserve
seats in government services for the members of the SC and ST.

The Constitution was amended by the Constitution (77th Amendment) act, 1995 and a new clause
(14A) was inserted in Article 16 to enable the government to provide reservation in promotion.

Later, clause (14A) was modified by the Constitution (85th amendment) Act, 2001 to provide
consequential seniority to SC and ST candidates promoted by giving reservation.

Page 2
Constitutional 81st Amendment Act, 2000 inserted Article 16 (4B) which enables the state to fill
the unfilled vacancies of a year which are reserved for SCs/STs in the succeeding year, thereby
nullifying the ceiling of fifty percent reservation on total number of vacancies of that year.

Article 330 and 332 provides for specific representation through reservation of seats for SCs and
STs in the Parliament and in the State Legislative Assemblies respectively.

Article 243D provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Panchayat.

Article 243T provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Municipality.

Article 335 of the constitution says that the claims of STs and STs shall be taken into
consideration constituently with the maintenance of efficacy of the administration.

Reservation Reservation Quota

category (%)
ST 7.5
SC 15
OBC 27
EWS 10
Total 59.50%

SC/ST Reservation

The objective of providing reservations to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs)
in services is not only to give jobs to some persons belonging to these communities.

It basically aims at empowering the man ensuring their participation in the decision-making
process of the State.

Besides, the state is also keen to end practices such as untouchability.

Scheduled Castes (SC) are given 15% quota in jobs/higher educational institutions while
Schedule Tribes (ST) are given 7.5% quota in jobs/higher educational institutions.

Reservation is provided not only with respect to direct recruitment but also with respect to
promotions for SC/ST category (Article 16 (4A)).

There is no concept of “Creamy layer” with respect to SC/ST reservation. This means that
irrespective of the income status or the government posts held by the parents, children of SC/ST
parents will get SC/ST Reservation.

Page 3
OBC Reservation

❖ Reservation for Other Backwards Classes (OBC) was introduced based on the Mandal
Commission Report (1991).
❖ The quota for OBCs is 27% in government jobs and higher educational institutions.
❖ However, there is a concept of “creamy layer” with respect to the OBC
reservation. Only those from OBC who comes under Non-Creamy Layer would get
OBC reservation.
❖ The creamy layer concept brings income and social status as parameters to exclude
some of the privileged members of OBC from the extent reservation.
❖ This concept also keeps a check to ensure that the benefit so reservation do not get
extended to subsequent generations.

EWS Reservation (10%quota)

The Central Government to India recently introduced EWS Reservation. 10% quota is provided
for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among General Category candidates in
government jobs and educational institutions.

This is done by adding clauses for the same in the Indian Constitution (103rd Constitution
Amendment Act, 2019).

Definition of Economically Weaker Section:

❖ Annual household income below Rs 8 lakh

❖ Agriculture land below 5 acres
❖ Residential house below 1000 sqft
❖ Residential plot below 200 yards in non-notified municipality area

10 percent reservation for general category: Who all will benefit?

According to government sources, this 10 percent reservation will apply for all communities and
caste is not going to be a criterion for eligibility.

The Narendra Modi government’s decision to provide 10 percent reservation to economically

backward’ upper castes is for all those communities/classes that do not come under the 50
percent quota as mandated by the Supreme Court. The 50 percent cap was set up in a 1992
judgment of the Supreme Court in the Indira Sawhney case.

According to government sources, this 10 percent reservation will apply for all communities, and
caste is not going to be a criterion for eligibility. The quota will be applicable to economically

Page 4
backwards among Hindus, Muslims and Christians. This means that this new quota won’t affect
the reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs.

So far Scheduled castes, who constitute 20 percent of the entire population in India, corner 15
percent reservation in the government sector. Scheduled Tribes, who constitute 9 percent of the
population, are provided with 7.5 percent reservation while communities in the Other Backward
Caste corner the lion’s share of 27 percent reservation.

Together, SCs, STs and OBCs, who constitute about 70 percent of the population, are provided
with 49.5 percent reservation in the government sector. It is the rest 30 percent or 39 crore, who
fall under the general category, which will be eligible to avail the 10 percent reservation
announced by the Centre.

Maharashtra accounts for maximum OBCs with 261 communities, while Karnataka has the most
number of SCs at 101. With 62 different Scheduled Tribe communities, Odisha has the maximum
number of STs.

Gujarat becomes first state to implement 10 percent quota for EWS in general
category.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced that his government will implement the 10
percent reservation for economically weaker sections of the general category with immediate
effect. The decision comes just a day after president Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the
Constitutional amendment.

Page 5
 Government of Tamilnadu
Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group I, II & IIA Prelims Exam

Subject : Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Topic : Social Justice

© Copyright

The Department of Employment and Training has prepared the TNPSC Group I, II &
IIA Preliminary Exam study material in the form of e-content for the benefit of Competitive
Exam aspirants and it is being uploaded in this Virtual Learning Portal. This e-content study
material is the sole property of the Department of Employment and Training. No one (either
an individual or an institution) is allowed to make copy or reproduce the matter in any
form. The trespassers will be prosecuted under the Indian Copyright Act.

It is a cost-free service provided to the job seekers who are preparing for the
Competitive Exams.

Commissioner,
Department of Employment and Training.
 SOCIAL JUSTICE
Introduction

Until the late 20th century, most philosophical discussions of justice and equality were
limited in scope to a single society. Even Rawls’s theory of justice, for example, had nothing to
say about the distribution of wealth between societies.

In the 1990s philosophers began to think about the moral implications of the vast
inequality in wealth between the leading industrialized countries and the countries of the
developing world, some of which were afflicted with widespread famine and disease.

The German – born philosopher Thomas Pogge argued that affluent countries are
responsible for increasing the poverty of developing countries and thus for causing millions of
deaths annually.

What do you mean by Social Justice?

• The negative values which are made by the society results in inequality and clavation
among people.
• Gender inequality may be quite natural, if looked upon superficially. All along the
centuries, women were subjugated and exploited without an opportunity which portrays
them as weaker section.
• Blacks were discouraged and kept aside as knowledge less. This situation continued for
many centuries and factualised against the black community.

In India

• Same situation prevails also in India. Many people were refused opportunities on the
basis of caste and it is believed as natural one in the society.
• Social power is the dominant phenomenon which leads to cut-throat competition and
ends in absolute control of the subjects.
• It is in order to protect the social identity, the dominant communities endeavour to
capture the power sector. Among different communities in a plural society, dominance
of a single group is considered as unfair and unjust.
• The dominant groups activate racial, religious, caste, lingual and cultural feelings and
intend to misuse the social rights of other groups that may end in permanent hostility
between different groups.
• The struggle that is undertaken by the weaker groups in order to react for establishing
equal society is known to be social Justice.

Background of Social Hierarchy

The ancient Indian civilization had evolved with the “Varnashrama Dharma” which kick-
started the principle of hierarchy i.e. Upper and Lower strata.

1
 The Varna system is also called as “Four Varna System” by which people were divided as
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vysyas and Shudras.

This division on the basis of birth has been in calculated and socialized along different
phases of civilization from which inequalities surfaced in the society.

Article 15 (4) of Indian Constitution

Article 29 (2) may not act as an obstacle in making special policy decisions for socially
and educationally backward communities or SC/ST people.

Article 16(4) of Indian Constitution

• This will not prevent any sort of appointment or reservation among backward
communities, if sufficient representation is not provided.
• India is a sub-tropical, sub-continent with varied geographical atmosphere. People speak
different languages and follow unique hereditary values.
• Albeit of these factors, inequality is existing due to the Varna System. It is in order to
advance and develop the socio – economic conditions of the downtrodden communities;
Indian constitution is having its ideal guidelines with strong structural foundation.
• According to Indian Constitution, states which are having low technological
development or inadequate natural resources can make their own special policies for
holistic advancement.
• In accordance with the existing constitutional provisions, the down trodden and under
privileged communities were provided with special laws and privileges in all the states.
• Ides like all inclusive development and self-sufficient societal growth highly hinges upon
social justice along with special arrangements for the marginalized sections.
• Equal opportunity is the process and social arrangement by which social democracy can
sustain and pluralism will be strengthened.
• In such a society different groups of religion, race and other factors can live with their
social identity, tolerance and shared power.

European vs Indian Society

• Economic condition and status is one among the reason for the wedge created in the
European society. Whereas in India, the division is on the basis of Purushasukta of
Rigveda and particularly Four Varna System. This Varna System prevents individuals
from their exercise of rights and values.
• Indian constitution in this regard is implementing all its supervisory mechanisms and
also is delivering distributive justice which is the motto of the largest democracy.
• This justice intended to weed out the caste distinction (Varna System) and to establish
equal society in India.

2
Equality is essential for Social Justice

• People accept equality as an essential phenomenon but still inequality and

discrimination are serving as distributing factors.
• Inequality prevails in almost all spheres like opportunities, comforts and working
atmosphere.
• This kind of inequality and discrimination is not only happening in India, but also at
global level which creates stir in the minds of the people. It is for this reason, social
equality stood in primary place in the socio-political principles.

Need of special privileges

• If poor children were not provided with adequate education and proper health care, we
are raising hue and cry.
• We give our voice for justice. First we should understand that if person is treated with
great respect on the basis of his caste, language or race, we may not tolerate the
reputation.
• If opportunity is denied along with social identity, that is absolute injustice in a society.
This creates inequality among the people.
• Regardless of caste, gender, religion and other differences, people should be provided
with appropriate opportunities to prove their talent and capacities in the individual life.
• Individuals should receive respect and reputation on the basis of their achievements and
talents.
• It should not be on the basis of social identities. Inequalities and discriminatory practices
which prevail in the society are artificial and are known as prejudices.

Just Distribution

• Governments can and will enact laws to facilitate the just distribution of resources to
individuals with in a society.
• Laws simply pave the way for the fair distribution of resources. Law enforcing agencies
may have to monitor the process of the distribution itself. This is the ideal situation.
• A country like ours where socio-cultural inequalities are well entrenched, a law for fair
distribution will not automatically ensure just distribution of resources.
• Governments will have to ensure a level playing filed in order to establish Justice.
• Since our constitution has abolished untouchability and other caste based discriminatory
practices, both the state and the legislature would have to ensure the creation of such a
level playing field.
• Thus, the Government which swears in the name of protecting our constitution has the
obligation of ensuring one of the finest promises of our constitution itself – bringing in
equality to our society.

3
 • Therefore, it is legal, constitutional and moral on the part of the government to create a
level playing ground for all its citizens especially those who have been historically denied
basic rights.
• This level playing field or what we popularly call ‘equal opportunity’ must not be treated
either as charity or as philanthropic gesture of the government.
• It is the obligation on the part of the government to treat people differently in order to
ensure Justice; more importantly it is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution
for disadvantaged people to seek legal, constitutional remedy.
• Similarly, level playing ground is aimed at creating equal opportunity only in education
and employment opportunities for the disadvantaged communities.
• Many especially people from the so called upper echelon of the society tend to think of
treating people differently in order to ensure just distribution effectively amounts to
discrimination.
• This opinion slowly and steadily invokes strong passion and at times results in violence
too. The fear of losing educational and employment opportunities among the privileged
communities was steadily growing as the government planned to ‘reserve’ seats for
people from marginalized and underprivileged communities as part of its equal
opportunity plan.

Merit Vs Reservation
The idea of ‘merit’ would be invoked by the privileged sections of our country to argue
that any attempt, to ‘reserve’ seats for the underprivileged people would strongly
damage merit based output of our education system; thus it would subsequently affect
the professional abilities of the candidates.

John Rawls Theory of Justice

• John Rawls is considered as one of the finest political philosophers of 20th century. He
development the theory of Justice based on the paradigm called Justice as Fairness.
• His framework treats all personal attributes as being morally arbitrary, therefore Justice
for him demands equality. For him ‘all social values including liberty, opportunity,
income, wealth, self-respects are to be distributed equally.

Rawls argues that if we do not know where we will be and what options would be
available for us in the future society, we will most likely support a decision on the rules and
organizations of that future society which would be fair for all members. When we are quite
uncertain about our future, we like to facilitate an order in which all members would get a fair
deal.

This moment Rawls describes as thinking under a ‘Veil of Ignorance’, We are ignorant
about our possible position and status in society, each person would decide the way they

4
generally do – trying to have optimum self interest in the new society. But surprisingly no one
knows exactly who he/she would be and what is going to benefit him/her.

Do you know?

• Migrated people are also having certain rights in the alien nations.
• Refugees, migrated and exiled are also exercising vital rights.
• The member nations of UN recognized those vital rights.

Socio – Cultural Equality

In the diversified society, people from different groups may practice their cultural values,
habitual factors and improve individual talents. For this to happen, equality in society is an
essential criterion. Every individual should be assured of fair opportunity in the society. To a
large extent, unequal atmosphere should be wiped out for attaining liberal society.

Actions must be taken at least to reduce the unequal circumstances. For instance, a good
healthcare, education, nutritious food stuffs, minimum emoluments are the basic needs to be
provided to all without discrimination. Without these basic facilities, we may not call a society
as egalitarian one.

What are the main issues of our Nation?

Beliefs and practices on the basis of caste and religion are dastardly obstacles. In many
parts of India, the status of women is at lower level – education, employment, right to property
are refused to women.

Economic Equality

Economic equality can be identified by individual’s income and the value of property, he
posses in a society. Otherwise, the gap between rich people community and poor may indicate
the status of economic equality.

“Humans respected on the basis of caste which he belongs to, is barbarian and anti-
human thinking”, exclaimed E.V.Ramaswamy alias Periyar in Tamil Nadu. He out-rightly
condemned the cultural practices, habitual follow-ups and other so called values which refutes
equality in all its aspects. Periyar also was against “Patriarchal Chauvinism” which subjugated
women all along the history.

That society is best which got rid of caste, religion, gender and suppressive habitual
practices”, lamented Periyar. Modern society cannot be sanctified by the people who cling
towards the language and discriminatory cultural practices. Apart from Periyar, various saints,
seers and philosophers took strenuous efforts to have egalitarian society. People who enjoyed
all kind of privileges on the basis of dynasty, birth and descent so far has to come to end.
Determining an individual’s capacity on accordance with the birth is the primary and precarious
feature of the unequal society.

5
 All are equal and individual’s capacity, if decided on the basis of merit, is the first step
towards equal society. So far, number of modern nations refused to provide voting rights for the
poor people. There are nations which restricts women education and public offices in the 21 st
century.

In India, lower starts people are permitted to work only in the clerical and other benefit-
less offices. They were not permitted to occupy higher positions, because of their caste identity.
Individuals and organization for the past centuries made onerous efforts to curb out in equal
menace from the society.

Reservation policy is a good initiative from the part of government in delivering equal
justice. People, who were denied of education and employment opportunities so far, were
provided with reservation for uplifting the condition and status.

Discriminatory practices which were followed for long time in the historical phases may
not be curbed out in a short span. Expecting the change within one of two generations is an
utopian faith, stated researchers. If reforms happened in short time, it will be a good sign for
the development of the entire nation.

Social Justice and Equality

All civilizations were equipped with the awareness of their practices. The accepted
practices are “Dharma” and the negative is “Adharma”. Those people who breach these practices
will be punished by the king. Mistakes and related punishments are quite natural in all the
countries.

Greek philosopher Plato and his disciples often debate and discuss about justice and its
practices. Discourses and teachings or Socrates consists of anti-justice people and their impact
in the society. Justice and fairness may do only good things in a society. If justice do favour for
certain individuals, that may not be considered and called as justice.

Justice is all about the entire development and advancement of a society. Fair justice is
applicable to all the people in a society, claimed Socrates. We may infer from the above said
arguments that reservation is the fair justice provided to the people, who were hitherto
discriminated and exploited.

Proportional Justice

The social justice provided by our Indian constitution to the depressed and downtrodden
communities is a helping hand for their development and advancement.

Caste hierarchy is the primary reason for inequality in our nation. Hence on the basis of
the caste hierarchy, social justice has to be maintained / must be maintained. In categorization,
we are having backward caste, most backward caste, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe for
whom; governments’ policies are distributed accordingly.

6
 • First Commission for backward community was established on 1953.
• Kaka Kalelkar was the first head of this Commission in Independent India.

Discrimination – Social Basis Theory

What discrimination means is that out grouping their own members from the
membership of their group or ban their members from accessing natural resources. Indeed,
wealth is an important matter.

Empirical studies confirm that persons with a low sense of social recognition display
more out-group devaluation and group – focused enmity based on an ideology of human
inequality.

Affirmative Action

The principle of affirmative action is to promote societal equality through the

preferential treatment of sociality and economically disadvantages people.

Often, these people are disadvantaged for historical reasons, such as oppression or
slavery. Support for affirmative action has sought to achieve a range of goals, bridging
inequalities in employment and pay; increasing access to education; enriching state,
institutional, and professional leadership with the full spectrum of society; redressing apparent
past wrongs, harms, or hindrances and in particular addressing the apparent social imbalance
left in the wake of slavery and slave laws.

For example, a 2017 study found that affirmative action in the United States of America
“there is an increase in the share of black employees over time: in 5 years after an establishment
is first regulated.”

7
 Government of Tamilnadu
Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group I, II & IIA Prelims Exam

Subject : Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Topic : Geography of Tamil Nadu

© Copyright

The Department of Employment and Training has prepared the TNPSC Group I, II &
IIA Preliminary Exam study material in the form of e-content for the benefit of Competitive
Exam aspirants and it is being uploaded in this Virtual Learning Portal. This e-content study
material is the sole property of the Department of Employment and Training. No one (either
an individual or an institution) is allowed to make copy or reproduce the matter in any
form. The trespassers will be prosecuted under the Indian Copyright Act.

It is a cost-free service provided to the job seekers who are preparing for the
Competitive Exams.

Commissioner,
Department of Employment and Training.
 GEOGRAPHY OF TAMIL NADU

The study of one’s own region is the first step to become a global citizen. Th e
purpose of studying our local territory is to understand life in our environment. In the last
five lessons, you have learnt about various geographical characterstics of our country. In
this lesson and those that follow, we shall learn about the geography of Tamil Nadu.
You will get to know about the etymology, history of formation, location, size, physical
divisions, rivers, climate, soil and natural vegetation of Tamil Nadu in this chapter.
Our state Tamil Nadu has a hoary past with a variety of cultural practices and traditions.
Its exquisite physiography and climate makes our state unique in India. It has long and
sunny beaches, waterfalls, hills, forests and varied flora and fauna.

Formation of Tamil Nadu

During Sangam age, the Tamizham was ruled by three great emperors – Cheras,
Cholas and Pandyas – and virtuous kings ruling small kingdoms like Adhiyaman and Pari.
For a short time, the Tamil country was ruled by the Kalabras, but not much about their
time is recorded or known. After the Kalabras, the Tamil country came under the control
of the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Marathas, Mughals and Vijayanagara empires in
succession until the British took administrative control over the entire country,
starting from Madras. During the British period, our country was divided into three
presidencies, namely Madras, Bombay and Calcutta for political and military purposes.
Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Orissa (Odisha)
constituted the Madras Presidency. After independence, following the linguistic
division of states, Telugu-speaking areas were bifurcated from the Madras state. After
bifurcation, there were only 13 districts in Madras state. The Madras state was renamed
as Tamil Nadu by C.N. Annadurai, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, on January 14,
1969.

Location and Size

Tamil Nadu is one of the 29 states of India, located in the southern most part of
the country. This landmass extends from 8°4'N to 13°35'N latitudes and from 76°18'E
to 80°20'E longitudes. Its eastern and western extremities are defined by the Point
Calimere and the hills of Anaimalai respectively. The northern extremity of the state is
marked by Pulicat lake and the southernmost point is Cape Comorin. It covers an area of
1,30,058 sq.km and is the 11th largest state in India. It covers 4% of the area of our country

Boundaries and Neighbours

Tamil Nadu is bounded by Bay of Bengal in the east, Kerala in the west, Andhra
Pradesh in the north, Karnataka in the northwest and Indian Ocean in the south. Gulf of
Mannar and Palk Strait separate Tamil Nadu from the Island of Sri Lanka, which lies to

1
the southeast of India. The state has 1,076 km long coastline, the second-longest in India
after Gujarat.

Administrative Divisions

Already we have learnt that the state of Tamil Nadu had only 13 districts at the time
of its formation. After that, the state was reorganised several times for the purpose of
administrative convenience. At present there are 35 districts in Tamil Nadu, including the
newly created districts such as Kallakurichi, Tenkasi and Chengalpet. The administrative
divisions of the state are given in the following table.

Divisions Numbers
Districts 35 (32+3)
Revenue Divisions 76
Taluks 226
Firkas 1,127
Revenue Villages 16,564
Municipal Corporations 15
Municipalities 125
Panchayat Unions (Blocks) 385
Town Panchayats 561
Village Panchayats 12,618
Lok Sabha Constituencies 39
Assembly Constituencies 234
Source: maps of india.com 2019

Activity
• Find out the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu with the help of a map.
• Group the districts of Tamil Nadu which share their boundary with the states of Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala separately.

Physiographic Divisions

We have learnt about endogenetic and exogeniec processes in 9th std. Have you
ever thought what kind of landforms on which you live? Have you ever noticed the
landscapes, you come across while travelling from one place to another? Have you ever
wondered how these landforms were formed? Let’s see the major physical features of
Tamil Nadu and their characteristics. Tamil Nadu is located on the Peninsular Plateau,

2
known as Deccan Plateau. It is also a part of the ancient Gondwana land that broke away
135 million years ago during Cretaceous Period. Tamil Nadu has many unique land
features which include high eroded mountains, shallow deep valleys and plains. The
topography of the state slopes towards east. Based on the major differences in relief, Tamil
Nadu is divided into the physical divisions of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Plateaus,
Coastal and Inland plains.

Western Ghats

Western Ghats extends from the Niligris in the north to Marunthuvazh Malai at
Swamithope in Kanyakumari district in the south. Height of the Western Ghats ranges
from 2,000 to 3,000 metres. It covers an area of about 2,500 sq.km. Though the Western
Ghats is a continuous range, it has some passes. The passes are Palghat, Shencottah,
Aralvaimozhi, and Achankoil. The Niligris, Anaimalai, Palani hills, Cardamom hills,
Varusanadu, Andipatti and Agasthiyar hills are the major hills of Western Ghats .

Nilgiri Hills

The Nilgiri hills is located in the Northwestern part of Tamil Nadu. It consists
of 24 peaks with more than 2,000 metre height. Doddabetta is the highest peak (2,637
metres) of this hills followed by Mukkuruthi (2,554 metres). Ooty and Coonoor are the
major hill stations located on this hills. It has more than 2,700 species of flowering
plants and the state animal Nilgiri Tahr is found in this hill. Much of the Nilgiris natural
montane grasslands and shrublands have been disturbed or destroyed by extensive
tea plantations and cattle grazing.

Anaimalai

Anaimalai is located in the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is located to

the south of Palghat Gap. Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Aliyar Reserved Forest, Valparai hill
station, Kadamparai hydroelectric Power Plant are located on this hills. Aliyar and
Tirumurthy dams are located at the foothills of this range.

Palani Hills

Palani hills are the eastward extension of the Western Ghats. Except its western
part, these hills are located in Dindigul district. Vandaravu (2,533 metres) is the highest
peak in the Palani hills. Vembadi Shola (2,505 metres) is its second highest peak. The hill
station of Kodaikanal (2,150 metres) lies in the south central portion of the range.

Cardamom Hills

These hills are also known as Yela Mala hills located in the southwestern part of
Tamil Nadu. It acquires its name from the cardamom spice, which is commonly grown
here. Pepper and coffee are the other crops cultivated over the hills. They meet the

3
Anaimalai hills in the northwest, the Palani hills in the northeast and Varusanadu and
Andipatti hills in the southeast.

Peaks in Western Ghats Height(m)

Doddabetta 2,637
Mukkuruthi 2,554
Vembadisolai 2,505
Perumalmalai 2,234
Kottaimtalai 2,01

Varusanadu and Andipatti Hills

Another eastward extension of Western Ghats is Varusanadu and Andipatti hills.

Megamalai (the highway mountain), Kalugumalai, Kurangani hill station, and Suruli
and Kumbakarai waterfalls are found on these hills. Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wild
life Sanctuary is located in the southern slope of these hills in Virudhunagar district. Vaigai
river and its tributaries originate in this region.

Pothigai Hills

Its major part lies in Tirunelveli district with its southern slope in the Kanyakumari
district. Pothigai hills are called with different names such as the Shiva Jothi Parvath,
Agasthiyar hills and Southern Kailash. These hills feature richest biodiversity in the
Western Ghats. This area is known for its rich evergreen forest, waterfalls and ancient
temples. Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is located in this region.

Mahendragiri Hills

This continous range is situated along the border of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli
districts and is a part of the southern range of the Western Ghats. Its average height is
1,645 metres. ISRO Propulsion Complex, a test facility for Indian Space Research
Organisation’s launch vehicles and satellite propulsion systems, is situated on the lower
slopes of this mountain.

The Eastern Ghats

Unlike Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats is a discontinuous and irregular one. It is

dissected at many places by the rivers, which drain into the Bay of Bengal. Its height ranges
from 1,100 to 1,600 metres. These hills separate the plains from plateaus. Javadhu,
Servarayan, the Kalrayan, Kollimalai and Pachaimalai are the major hills of the Eastern
Ghats of Tamil Nadu and are located in northern districts of the state.

Javadhu Hills

Javadhu hills are an extension of the Eastern Ghats spread across parts of Vellore
and Tiruvannamalai districts and separatesthese two districts. Many peaks with the
height of 1,100–1,150 metres are located in this range. Melpattu is its highest peak. The

4
Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO) Kavalur, which began operations in 1967, is located on
these hills. Many parts of this range are covered with bluish grey granites. It is noted for
its fruit bearing trees, medicinal herbs and sandalwoods. Due to illegal logging,
sandalwood trees are disappeared now.

Kalvarayan Hills

The name ‘Kalvarayan’ comes from the word ‘Karalar’, the ancient name of the
present tribes. It is another major range of hills in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu. This
range, along with the Pachaimalai, Aralvaimalai, Javadhu and Servarayan hills, separates
the river basins of Cauvery and Palar. The height of this hill ranges from 600 to 1,220
metres. These hills have two sections. The northern section is referred as the Chinna
Kalvarayan and the southern one the Periya Kalvarayan. The average height of Chinna
Kalvarayan is 825 metres and the Periya Kalvarayan is 1,220 metres.

Servarayan Hills

It is a mountain range located near the Salem city with the height ranging from
1,200 to 1,620 metres. Th e name of the range comes from a local deity, Servarayan. Th e
highest peak in the southern part of the Eastern Ghats is located in this range. Th e peak
is Solaikaradu and its height is 1,620 metres. Th e hill station Yercaud, which is known as
poor man’s Ooty, is located on this range. Servarayan temple is its highest point (1623
metres).

Peaks in Eastern Ghats Height (m)

Shervarayan temple 1,623
Mazhamalai 1,500
Urgamalai 1,486
Kuttirayan 1,395
Muganur 1,279
Valsamalai 1,034

Districts Hills
Coimbatore Maruthamalai, Velliangiri and Anaimalai
Dharmapuri Th eertha malai, Chitteri and Vathalmalai
Dindigul Pazhamalai and Kodaikanal
Erode Chenni hills and Sivan hills
Vellore Javadhu, Yelagiri and Rathinamalai hills
Namakkal Kolli hills
Salem Servarayan, Kanjamalai and Chalk hills
Villupuram Kalvarayan and Gingee hills
Perambalur Pachaimalai
Kanyakumari Marunthuvazhmalai
Tirunelveli Mahendragiri and Agasthiyarmalai
Th e Nilgiris Nilgiri hills

5
Kolli Hills

It is a small mountain range located in Namakkal district. It covers an area of about

2,800 sq.km. It rises up to 1300 metres. This is a mountain range that runs almost parallel
to the east coast of South India. Arpaleeswarar temple located on this range is an
important pilgrim centre. It has the largest cover of evergreen or shola forest when
compared to other parts of the Eastern Ghats. Several coffee plantations, fruits, flowers
and silveroak estates are found in this region.

Pachaimalai

It is the lowest hill range, spreads over the districts of Perambalur, Tiruchirapalli
and Salem. In Tamil language, pachai means green. The vegetation in this range is greener
than the vegetative cover of the other hills in this region. Hence it is named as ‘Pachai
malai’. Jackfruit is a popular seasonal agricultural product of this hills.

Plateaus

Plateaus of Tamil Nadu are located between the Western Ghats and the Eastern
Ghats. It is roughly triangular in shape and covers an area of about 60,000 sq.km. Its
height increases from east to west. Its height ranges between 150 and 600 metres. This
plateau is broader in the north and very narrow in the south. It has many subdivisions.
Bharamahal plateau is a part of the Mysore plateau situated in the northwestern
part of Tamil Nadu. Its height ranges from 350 to 710 metres. Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri
districts are located in this region. Coimbatore plateau lies between the
Nilgiris and Dharmapuri districts. Its height varies from 150 to 450 metres. This region
includes Salem, Coimbatore and Erode districts. The area of this plateau is about
2,560 sq.km. Its height varies from 352 to 710 metres. Moyar river separates this plateau
from the Mysore plateau.

Rivers like Bhavani, Noyyal and Amaravathi, which originate from Western
Ghats, form valleys in this region. Many intermontane plateaus are found in the region
of the Nilgiris. Sigur plateau is one such plateau. Madurai plateau found in Madurai
district extends up to the foothills of the Western Ghats. Vaigai and Thamirabarani
basins are located in this zone.

Plains
The plains of Tamil Nadu may be divided into two, namely inland plains and
coastal plains. Inland plains are drained by the rivers Palar, Ponnaiyar, Cauvery and
Thamirabarani. Cauvery plains is one of the most important fertile plains of the state. The
plains of Cauvery is found in Salem, Erode, Karur, Tiruchirapalli, Pudukottai, Thanjavur,
Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.

Coastal plains of Tamil Nadu are also called Coromandel or Cholamandalam (land
of Cholas) plain, which extends from Chennai to Kanyakumari. It is formed by the rivers

6
that flow towards east drain in the Bay of Bengal. It is more than 80 kilometres wide at
some places. Though it is an emerged coast, some parts are submerged into the sea. The
sand dunes formed along the coast of Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts are
called Teri. Coral rocks are found at the head of Gulf of Mannar in the east coastal plain.

Bleaches

The Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal consists of many beautiful and
exotic beaches. The golden sands of Tamil Nadu beaches are scattered with palm and
casuarinas groves. Marina and Elliot beaches of Chennai, Kovalam and Silver beaches of
Kanyakumari are some of the famous beaches in Tamil Nadu.

Drainage

Rivers of Tamil Nadu are its lifeline. Though it has many rivers, the rivers of
Cauvery, Palar, Ponnaiyar, Vaigai and Thamirabarani are the notable ones. Most
of the rivers of Tamil Nadu originate from Western Ghats and flow towards east
and drain into the Bay of Bengal. All the rivers of the state are non-perennial except
Thamirabarani. It is perennial as it is fed by both the southwest and northeast monsoons.

Cauvery

The river Cauvery originates at Talacauvery in the Brahmagiri hills of

Kodagu(coorg) istrict of Karnataka in the Western Ghats. About 416 km of its course falls
in Tamil Nadu. It serves as the boundary between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for a
distance of 64 km. It forms Hogenakkal waterfalls in Dharmapuri district. Mettur Dam,
also called as the Stanley Reservoir, is located across this river in Salem district. A tributary
called Bhavani joins Cauvery on the right bank about 45 km from the Mettur Reservoir.
Thereafter, it takes easterly course to enter into the plains of Tamil Nadu. Two more
tributaries, Noyyal and Amaravathi, confluence the river on the right bank at
Thirumukkudal 10 km from Karur. The river is wider in this region, where it is
called as ‘Agandra Cauvery’.

In Tiruchirappalli district, the river branches into two parts. The northern
branch is called Coleroon or Kollidam and the southern branch remains Cauvery. From
here, the Cauvery delta begins. After flowing for about 16 km, the two branches join again
to form the ‘Srirangam Island’. The Grand Anaicut, also called as Kallanai was built
across the river Cauvery. After Kallanai, the river breaks into a large number of
distributaries and forms a network all over the delta. The network of distributaries within
the delta of Cauvery in the coast is called as the ‘Garden of Southern India’. It merges
into Bay of Bengal to the south of Cuddalore.

Palar

The Palar river rises beyond Talagavara village in the Kolar district of Karnataka.
The Palar drains an area of 17,871 sq.km, out of which nearly 57% lies in Tamil Nadu

7
and the rest in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Ponnai, Goundinya Nadhi,
Malattar, Cheyyar and Kiliyar are its major tributaries. Its total length is 348 km, out
of which 222 km of its course falls in Tamil Nadu. It flows through the districts of Vellore
and Kancheepuram before entering into Bay of Bengal near Kuvattur.

Then Pennaiyar/Then Ponnaiyar

It originates from the eastern slope of Nandi Durga hills in eastern Karnataka. It
drains an area of 16,019 sq.km, of which nearly 77% lies in Tamil Nadu. It flows for a
distance of 247 km in the southeasterly direction in the districts of Krishnagiri,
Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Villupuram. It branches into two,
viz. Gadilam and the Ponnaiyar near Tirukoilur Anaicut. Gadilam joins the Bay of Bengal
near Cuddalore and Ponnaiyar near the Union Territory of Puducherry. Chinnar,
Markandanadhi, Vaniar and Pambar are its tributaries. Heavy rain at the river’s source
cause sudden but short-lived floods. The river is extensively dammed for irrigation,
especially in Tamil Nadu. There are reservoirs at Krishnagiri and Sathanur across
this river. The Ponnaiyar is considered sacred by Hindus and festivals are held during
the Tamil month of Thai (January–February).

Vaigai

Vaigai river rises from the eastern slopes

of the Varusanadu hills of Western Ghats of
Tamil Nadu. It drains an area of 7,741 sq.km,
which lies entirely in the state of Tamil Nadu. It
flows through the districts of Madurai,
Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram. Its length is
258 km. It discharges its water into the Ramnad
Big Tank and some other small tanks. The
surplus water from the tanks is finally
discharged into Palk Strait near
Ramanathapuram.

Thamirabarani

The name is interpreted as Thamiram

(copper) and Varuni (streams of river). The
water of this river gives a copper like appearance
due to the presence of dissolved suspended red
soil. It originates from a peak in Pothigai hills on the Western Ghats above Papanasam in
the Ambasamudram taluk. The origin of the river is associated with Sage Agasthiyar. It
courses through the districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi and finally flow into the Bay
of Bangal near Punnaikayal in Thoothukudi district. Karaiyar,

8
Servalar, Manimuthar, Gadananathi, Pachaiyar, Chittar and Ramanathi are its main
tributaries.

Climate

You have already learnt that the Tropic of Cancer divides India roughly into two
equal parts and the state Tamil Nadu lies to the south of Tropic of Cancer, which is near
the Equator. As it receives vertical sunrays, the temperature of the state is relatively high
throughout the year. Though the state falls within the hot climatic zone, the east coast of
Tamil Nadu enjoys tropical maritime climate. The Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean
influence the climate of the coastal regions. Th e annual temperature ranges from 18o to
43o and the annual rain fall is 958.5 mm.

While the east coast experiences

tropical maritime climate, the western
region of the state enjoys the mountainous
climate. Th is climate prevails over the Blue
Mountains, Anaimalai and the Kodaikanal
hills. Thick forests and high altitude make
the climate of these areas cool and
pleasant. Th us stations in this region attract thousands of people during the summer
season. Low altitude and distance from the sea are the
reasons for high temperature and dry conditions in the central part of Tamil Nadu. Th e
migration of vertical sun’s rays leads to the formation of different seasons in Tamil Nadu
as follows.

Winter Season

During January and February, the vertical rays of the sun fall between the Tropic
of Capricorn and the Equator. Hence, Tamil Nadu and India on the whole receive slanting
rays from the sun. So, the weather is slightly cooler during these months. The difference
between summer and winter temperature is not very high. Winter temperature in Tamil
Nadu varies from 15°C to 25°C. However, in the hill stations, the winter temperature drops
below 5°C occasionally. Some valleys in the Nilgiris record even 0°C. This drop in
temperature leads to the formation of thick mist and frost. This season is practically dry.

Summer Season

The apparent migration of the sun towards north during March, April and May
results in the reception of vertical sun’s rays by South India. Thus there is a steady rise in
temperature from the equator. Hence, Tamil Nadu located to the south of Tropic of
Cancer, experiences high temperature. Generally the temperature varies from 30°C to
more than 40°C. During this season particularly in the month of May, southern part of the
state receives some rainfall from pre-monsoon showers (Mango/Blossom showers) and
some parts experience convectional rainfall.

9
Southwest Monsoon

The intense heating of the landmass of the north by the sun during March to May
creates a well-developed low pressure in North India, which draws wind from the Indian
Ocean. This results in the formation of southwest monsoon. During this season, Tamil
Nadu is located in the rain shadow region for the wind, which blows from the Arabian Sea.
As a result, Tamil Nadu receives only a meagre rainfall from this monsoon. Rainfall during
this season decreases from west to east. Coimbatore plateau receives an average of 50 cm
rainfall. However, the southern districts like Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and The Nilgiris
record 50–100 cm rainfall during this period. Th e rainfall is scanty in the eastern part of
the state.

Northeast Monsoon

The northeast monsoon season commences from the month of October and lasts
till mid-December. The high pressure created over Central Asia and northern part
of India becomes the source for the northeast monsoon winds. The apparent migration of
the sun from Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn causes a change in receiving
temperature and air pressure during this season. It makes the wind to blow towards Bay
of Bengal from North India. After reaching Bay of Bengal, the wind gets deflected by
Coriolis force and takes the northeast direction. Hence it is known as northeast monsoon.
As the northeast monsoon is a part of returning of southwest monsoon wind, it is also
called as the retreating monsoon. This is the main rainy season for Tamil Nadu, accounting
for its 48% of annual rainfall. Coastal districts of the state get nearly 60% of their annual
rainfall and the interior districts get about 40–50% of the annual rainfall during this
season.

Tropical cyclones are common during this season. Cyclone originating from the
Bay of Bengal bring heavy rainfall to the east coastal regions of Tamil Nadu. More than
50% of the state’s rainfall is received from tropical cyclones during this period and east
coastal region receives 100 to 200 cm of rainfall. The rainfall received by the central and
north western parts is 50–100 cm. The cyclones sometimes disturb the cultivation of crops
and cause severe damage to life and property.

Soils of Tamil Nadu

Soil is the loose material mainly formed by the weathering and erosion of rocks. It
forms an important element of agriculture. It provides essential minerals and nutrients
for the growth of vegetation. Soil is one of the important non-renewable resources in the
world. It takes 300–1,000 years to form two inches of soil. The soil of a place depends on
the factors like climate, parent rocks and vegetative cover of the respective places. The
soils in Tamil Nadu are broadly classified into five types according to their characteristics.
They are alluvial, black, red, laterite and saline soils.

10
Alluvial Soil

Alluvial soils are formed by the deposition of silt by the rivers. Alluvial soils are
generally fertile as they are rich in minerals such as lime, potassium, magnesium, nitrogen
and phosphoric acid. It is deficient in nitrogen and humus. It is porous and loamy. Paddy,
sugarcane, banana and turmeric are cultivated in this soil. It is found in the river valley
regions and the coastal plains of Tamil Nadu. Generally this type of soil is found in the
districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and
Kanyakumari. It is also found to a small extent along the river valleys in few interior
districts.

Black Soil

Black soils are formed by the weathering of igneous rocks. It is also known as regur
soil. As cotton grows well in this soil, it is also called as black cotton soil. This soil is
developed over the Deccan lava granite region under semiarid conditions. It is fine
textured and clayey in nature. It is poor in phosphoric acid, nitrogen and organic matter.
Chief minerals found in this soil are calcium, magnesium, carbonates, potash and lime.
Cotton, sorghum, cumbu and fodder crops are the major crops cultivated in the black soil
regions of Tamil Nadu. Black soils are found extensively in the districts of Coimbatore,
Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

Red Soil

Red soils cover over two-thirds of the total area of Tamil Nadu. They are found
particularly in the central districts of the state. This soil is sandy and loamy in texture.
However, the characteristic features of the red soil vary according to its formation and
climatic condition under which the soil was formed. Red soil is porous, friable and non-
retentive of moisture. The colour of the soil is due to the presence of high content of iron
oxides. This soil is poor in nitrogen, phosphorus, acids and humus. paddy, ragi, tobacco
and vegetables are the chief crops grown in this soil. Almost all types of crops can be grown
in this soil with the application of manure and irrigation facilities. It is dominantly found
in Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram districts.

Laterite Soil

This soil is formed by the process of intense leaching. Laterite soils are found in
some parts of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Thanjavur districts and some patches over
the mountainous region in the Nilgiris. Crops grown in this soil are paddy, ginger, pepper
and plantains. It is also suitable for the cultivation of tea and coffee plants.

Saline Soil

Saline soils in Tamil Nadu are confined to the Coromandel coast. Vedaranyam has
a pocket of saline soil. However, the tsunami waves on December 26, 2004 brought a lot

11
of sand and deposited it all along the east coast of Tamil Nadu. The tsunami made the
coastal areas unsuitable for cultivation to a considerable extent.

Soil Erosion

Soil is a non-renewable resource. It is very difficult to replace the soil once it gets
degraded. Deforestation, overgrazing, urbanisation and heavy rain are responsible for soil
erosion in Tamil Nadu. Soil erosion reduces the fertility of soils, which in turn reduces
agricultural productivity. So, it is necessary to take intensive care to conserve the soil
resources.

Natural Vegetation

Natural vegetation refers to the forest cover. Landforms, nature of soil,

temperature and rainfall are the major factors that control the distribution of natural
vegetation. As per National Forest Policy, 1988, a minimum of one-third of the total
geographical area must be under forest cover. The total forest cover of Tamil Nadu is far
lower than this. According to the Tamil Nadu State of Forest Report - 2017
assessment, the area under forest in the state is 26,281 sq.km, which constitutes 20.21%
of the total area. Tamil Nadu constitutes 2.99% of India’s forest cover. The forest types in
the state varies from wet evergreen to scrub forests. The Western Ghats, the longest hill
range in the state, is one of the 25 global hotspots of bio-diversity and one of the three
mega centres of endemism in India. The following table shows the categories of forest and
their areal extent classified under the provision of Indian Forest Act.

Forest Types

The forest in the state is broadly divided into five types as follows

Tropical Evergreen Forest

This forest type is found in the regions that receive heavy rainfall. It is a dense,
multilayered forest. It is found in the upper slopes of Western Ghats of Tirunelveli,
Kanyakumari, the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts. The major tree species of this forest
are cinnamon, Malabar ironwood, panasa, java plum/jamun, jack, kindal, ayani and crape
myrtle. The semievergreen type of forest in the state is found over the regions of sub-
tropical climate over the Eastern Ghats. The prominent regions are Servarayan, Kollimalai
and Pachaimalai. Species of Indian
mahogany, monkey teak, woolly cassia, jack
and mango trees are common in this region.

Montane Temperate Forest

It is found in sheltered valleys of

Anaimalai, Nilgiris and Palani hills over a
1000 metres altitude. They are known as

12
‘Sholas’. The trees in this forest are evergreen
and usually short. Nilgiri champa, wights litsea and rose apple are the common trees
found in this forest.

Tropical Deciduous Forest

This type of forest lies in the margin of semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. The
trees in this forest shed their leaves during the dry season. The trees reach up to a height
of 30 metres. Some trees of this forest are silk cotton, kapok, kadamba, dog teak, woman's
tounge, axlewood and siris. Bamboos are also common in this type of forests. Some trees
of this forest are economically important.

Mangroves

This type of forest is found in the coastal areas, river deltas, tails of islands and over
sea faces where accretion is in progress. The vegetation is typically evergreen, moderate in
height and has leathery leaves. The vegetation of this forest is adapted to survive in tidal
mud and salt water. Asiatic mangrove, white mangrove, wild jasmine/Indian pivot etc. are
some of the notable trees of this forest. Pichavaram, Vedaranyam, Muthupet, Chatram and
Thoothukudi are the places in Tamil Nadu where the mangrove forest is found to a
considerable extent.

Tropical Thorn Forest

Thorn forest in Tamil Nadu is found where there is a little rainfall. These forests
are found from plains up to 400 meters altitude. The common trees of this forest are rusty
acacia, wheel, neem and palm. Shrubs are common vegetation in this type of forest. This
type of forest is found in the districts of Dharmapuri, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar
and some parts of interior districts.

Districts with prominent forest

cover in Tamil Nadu

District Area (sq km)

Dharmapuri 3,280

Coimbatore 2,627

Erode 2,427

Vellore 1,857

The Nilgiris 1,583

Dindigul 1,662

13
Wild life

Animals and birds live in forests constitute the wild life. Tamil Nadu has a
variety of wild animals, birds and reptiles. hills are an ideal refuge for elephants, bisons,
tigers, deer and monkeys. Several Wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks have been set
up to protect the animal life in the state. The hills of the state provide an ideal condition
for a variety of animals and plants life. The list of Wild life Sanctuaries, National parks and
Biosphere Reserves of Tamil Nadu are listed in the following tables.

Tamil Nadu is a state with varied climate, landforms and resources. This makes our
state a distinct one among the Indian states. In Tamil Nadu, If the available resources are
utilised rationally, it may continue to be at top in the country. So, it is the duty of the every
individual to strive towards achieving this goal.

14
15
 Government of Tamilnadu
Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group I, II & IIA Prelims Exam

Subject : Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Topic : Achievements of Tamil Nadu in various Fields

© Copyright

The Department of Employment and Training has prepared the TNPSC Group I, II &
IIA Preliminary Exam study material in the form of e-content for the benefit of Competitive
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It is a cost-free service provided to the job seekers who are preparing for the
Competitive Exams.

Commissioner,
Department of Employment and Training.
 ACHIEVEMENTS OF TAMIL NADU IN VARIOUS FIELDS

Agriculture

• Tamil Nadu, with seven agro climatic zones and varied soil types is better suited
for the production of fruits, vegetables, spices, plantation crops, flowers and
medicinal plants.
• The State is the largest producer of loose flowers and the third largest producer of
fruits.
• Tamil Nadu has historically been an agricultural state. At present, Tamil Nadu is
the India’s second biggest producer of rice, next only to West Bengal.
• The state is one of the major producers of turmeric. It is also the leading producer
of Kambu, Corn, Groundnut, Oil seeds and Sugarcane,
• It rants first in production of plantation crops banana and coconut,
second in rubber and cashew nut, third in pepper and fourth in sugarcane.

Area of Cultivation

• The gross cropped area under all crops was 58.97 lakh hectares in the year 2013-
14. The area under food crops account for 72.9% and that of non-food crops is
27.1%.
• Among the food crops paddy takes a major share. Among the non-food crops,
groundnut and coconut take a major share.
• Net sown area has been gradually declining, and rural land, labour and capital
are moving towards urban projects. As a result, villages are emptied and cities are
over-crowded and congested, leading to spatially unbalanced bulging.

Food grain production

• Rice production dominates among food grain production with 79.49 lakh tones on
2014-15 followed by millets at 40.79 lakh tons.
• There is significant jump in pulses production from 3.59 lakhs ton in 2011-12 to
7.67 lakh ton in 2014-15.

Productivity Position of Tamil Nadu and India

• The Government of Tamil Nadu lays emphasis on agricultural production and

productivity.
• As a result, Tamil Nadu tops in productivity, in food crops as well as non-food
crops, among the States in India.

Productivity Position of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu ranks first in maize, cumbu, groundnut, oil seeds and cotton second in
rice and coconut, third in sugarcane, sunflower and jowar.

1
 Crop Position of Tamil Nadu at
National Level

Maize 1

Cumbu 1

Groundnut 1

Total Oilseeds 1

Cotton 1

Coconut 2

Rice 2

Sugarcane 3

Sunflower 3

Jowar 3

Coarse cereals 4

Total Pulses 8

Industry

• Chennai is sometimes referred to as the Health Capital of India or the Banking

Capital of India, having attracted investments from International Finance
Corporations and the World Bank. It is also called as Detroit of Asia.
• Tamil Nadu has a network of about 110 industrial parks/estates that offer
developed plots with supporting infrastructure.
• Also, the Government is promoting other industrial parks like Rubber Park,
Apparel Park, Floriculture Park, TICEL Park for Biotechnology, Siruseri IT Park
and Agro Export Zones.
• The heavy engineering manufacturing companies are centered around the suburbs
of Chennai. Chennai boasts of global car manufacturing giants as well as home
grown companies.
• Karur is known for its bus body building which contributes 80% of South Indian
bus body building.
• TNPL is the Asia’s largest eco friendly paper mill.
• Salem is called as steel city and has many sago producing units and mineral
wealth.

2
 • Sivakasi is the leader in printing, fireworks, safety matches production in India.
It contributes to 80% of India’s total safety matches production and 90% of India’s
total fireworks production.
• Thoothukudi is the gateway of Tamil Nadu. It is a major chemical producer next
only to Chennai.

Textiles

• Tamil Nadu is the largest textile hub of India. Tamil Nadu is known as the
“YarnBowl” of the country accounting for 41% of India’s cotton yarn production.
• The textile industry plays a significant role in the Indian economy by providing
direct employment to an estimated 35 million people, and thereby contributing 4%
of GDP and 35% of gross export earnings.
• The textile sector contributes to 14% of the manufacturing sector.
• From spinning to garment manufacturing, entire textile production chain facilities
are in Tamil Nadu. About half of India’s total spinning mill capacity is in Tamil
Nadu.
• The western part of Tamil Nadu comprising Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Dindigul
and Karur has the majority of spinning mills manufacturing
cotton/polyester/blended yarn and silk yarn used by garment units in Tamil Nadu,
Maharastra etc. Yarn is also exported to China, Bangladesh etc.
• Tirupur known as “Knitting City” is the exporter of garments worth USD 3
Billion.
• Karus is the major home for textile manufacturing (Curtain cloth, bed linens,
kitchen linens, toilet linens, table linens, wall hangings etc.) and export hub in
India.
• Erode is the main cloth market in South India for both retail and wholesale ready-
mades.

Leather

• Tamil Nadu accounts for 30 per cent of leather exports and about 70 percent of
leather production in the country.
• Hundreds of leather and tannery industries are located around Vellore, Dindigul
and Erode.
• Every year the State hosts the India International Leather Fair in Chennai.

Electronics

• Chennai has emerged as EMS Hub of India. Many multi-national companies have
chosen Chennai as their South Asian manufacturing hub.

3
Automotives

• Chennai nicknamed as “The Detroit of Asia” is home to a large number of auto

component industries.
• Tamil Nadu has 28% share each in automotive and auto components industries,
19% in the trucks segment and 18% each in passenger cars and two wheelers.

Cement Industry

• Tamil Nadu ranks third in cement production in India (First Andhra Pradesh,
Second Rajasthan).
• Among 10 largest cement companies in India as on 2018, Ramco Cement and India
Cement find prominent place.
• And also Tamil Nadu stands second in number of cement plants with 21 units
against 35 units in Andhra Pradesh.

Fire works

• The town of Sivakasi is a leader in the areas of printing, fireworks, and safety
matches.
• It was fondly called a “Little Japan” by Jawaharlal Nehru. It contributes to 80%
of India’s fireworks production.
• Sivakasi provides over 60% of India’s total offset printing solutions.

Sivakasi – A fireworks manufacturing hub

➢ Sivakasi is a town in Virudhunagar District of Tamilnadu.

➢ World renowned for firework Production.
➢ Accounts for USD 80 Million exports of safety Matches, printing and Firework
in 2013-14.

Other

• One of the global electrical equipment public sector companies viz BHEL has
manufacturing plants at Tiruchirappalli and Ranipet.
• The Tamil Nadu State Government owns the Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers
(TNPL), the World’s biggest bagasse – based paper mill in Karur.
• Tamil Nadu is a leading producer of cement in India and with manufacturing units
located at Ariyalur, Virudhunagar, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli.
• The region around Salem is rich in mineral ores. The country’s largest steel public
sector undertaking, SAIL has a steel plant in Salem.
• Coimbatore is also referred to as “the Pump City” as it supplies two thirds of
India’s requirements of motors and pumps. The city is one of the largest exporters
of jewellery, wet grinders and auto components and the term “Coimbatore Wet
Grinder” has been given a Geographical indication.

4
 • Thoothukudi is known as “Gateway of Tamil Nadu” Thoothukudi is the
major chemical producer in the state. It producers the 70 per cent of the total salt
production in the State and 30 per cent in the country.

MSMEs

• The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are defined under the MSMED Act
2006. The enterprises are classified as Manufacturing and Service enterprises
based on the investment in plant and machinery and equipment (excluding land
and building).
• Tamil Nadu accounts of 15.07% Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
in the country (the highest among all states) with 6.89 lakhs registered MSMEs.
Producing over 8000 varieties of product for a total investment of more than
Rs.32,008 crore.
• MSMEs produce a wide variety of products in almost all sectors. The prominent
among them are the engineering, electrical, chemicals, plastics, steel paper,
matches, textiles, hosiery and garments sector. Around 15.61 lakh entrepreneurs
have registered, providing employment opportunities to about 99.7 lakhs persons
with total investment of Rs.1,68,331 crore.

Energy

• Tamil Nadu tops in power generation among the southern States as seen in
following table.
• Installed capacity of power utilities in States in Southern region.

State Units Ranks

Tamil Nadu 26,865 MW I

Karnataka 18,641 MW II

Andhra Pradesh 17,289 MW III

Telungana 12,691 MW IV

Kerala 4,141 MW V

79,627 MW

(Source : Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power, Government of India.

Retrieved Jan. 2017)

• Tamil Nadu is in the forefront of all other Indian States in installed capacity.
• Muppandal wind farm is a renewable energy source, supplying the villagers with
electricity for work.
5
 • Wind farms were built in Nagercoil and Tuticorin apart from already existing ones
around Coimbatore, Pollachi, Dharapuram and Udumalaipettai.
• These areas generate about half of India’s 2,000 megawatts of wind energy or two
percent of the total power output of India.

Nuclear Energy

Units Existing Installed Capacity

(2018)

Kudankulam 1834 MW (2 x 917)

Kalpakkam 470 MW (2 x 235)

Thermal Power

In Tamil Nadu the share of thermal power in total energy sources is very high and
the thermal power plants are at Athippattu (North Chennai) Ennore, Mettur, Neyveli and
Thoothukudi.

The generation of power under various sources is given below.

Hydel Energy

There are about 20 hydro electric units in Tamil Nadu. The prominent units are
Hundah, Mettur, Periyar, Maravakandy, Parson Valley etc.

Ranking States Total Capacity

(MW) 2017

1 Tamil Nadu 1590.97

2 Rajasthan 1317.64

3 Gujarat 1159.76

4 Telangana 1073.41

5 Andhra Pradesh 976.65

Source Million Units %

Thermal 13304 49.52

Hydel 2203 8.20

6
 Nuclear 986 3.67

Others (Wind, Solar) 10372 38.61

Total 26865 100.00

Solar Energy

• Tamil Nadu tops in power generation among the southern States as seen in
following table.
• Southern Tamil Nadu is considered as one of the most suitable regions in the
country for developing solar power projects.

Wind Energy

Tamil Nadu has the highest installed wind energy capacity in India. The state has
very high quality of off shore wind energy potential off the Tirunelveli coast and Southern
Thoothukudi and Rameswaram coast.

Services

Banking, insurance, energy, transport and communication fall under tertiary

sector i.e., services.

Banking

• In Tamil Nadu, Nationalized banks account for 52% with 5,337 branches, Private
Commercial Banks 30% (3,060) branches, State Bank of India and its associates
13% (1,364), Regional Rural Banks 5% (537) branches and the remaining 22 foreign
bank branches.
• Total deposits of the banks in Tamil Nadu registered an year – on year increase of
14.32% by March 2017 and touched Rs.6,65,068.59 crores.
• Total credit of the banks in Tamil Nadu registered a year on year increase of 13,50%
by March 2017 and touched Rs.6,95,500.31 crores.
• The share of Priority Sector Advances stands at 45.54% as against the national
average of 40%.
• The percentage of Agricultural advances to total advances as at the end of March
2017 works out to 19.81% as against the national average of 18%.
• Banks in Tamil Nadu have maintained one of the highest Credit Deposit Ratio of
119.15% in the country where as this ratio is 77.5% at the national level.

7
Education

a. School Education

• Tamil Nadu is grouped among high Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) States. It ranks
third next only to Kerala (81%) and Himachal Pradesh (74%). The all India average
is 43% and the world average is 59%.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio is 118.8% for primary level (class 1-5); 112.3% for upper
primary level (class 6-8), 62.7% for secondary level (class 9-10), 49.26% at Higher
Secondary level (class 11-12). This has been possible mainly due to the supply of
free food, cloth, foot-wear, scholarship, laptop etc.

b. Higher Education

• In Gross Enrolment Ratio under higher education (Tertiary level) Tamil Nadu
continues to be at the top level well ahead of other states.
• The GER is 46.9% in Tamil Nadu which is far higher against national average and
all other states.
• This higher GER is thanks to the distribution of free food, cloth, footwear, laptop
and scholarship.

Gross Enrolment Rate %

• Tamil Nadu has 59 Universities, 40 Medical colleges, 517 Engineering colleges,

2,260 Arts and Science colleges, 447 Polytechnics and 20 dental colleges.
• Tamil Nadu products nearly four lakh engineering and polytechnic students every
year, the highest in the country.

Educational Loans

• As far as educational loans disbursed by Public Sector Banks under priority sector
are concerned, 20.8% of the total amount was disbursed in Tamil Nadu between
2013-14 and 2015-16.
• Andhra Pradesh was second with 11.2% of the total loan amount followed by
Maharashtra (10.2%).
• Of the total amount of educational loans disbursed by Private Banks during the
same period, Kerala accounted for 37.8% followed by Tamil Nadu with 24.8%.
• Both Karnataka and Kerala together accounted for more than 60% of the total
educational loan amount by Private Banks.

Health

• Tamil Nadu has a three – tier health infrastructure comprising hospitals, primary
health centres, health units, community health centres and sub-centres.

8
 • As of March 2015, the State had district hospitals, 229 sub-divisional hospitals,
1,254 primary health centres, 7,555 sub-centres and 313 community health centres.

Communication

• Maharashtra has the highest number of internet subscribers in the country at 29.47
million, followed by States like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
• According to government data, India had a total of 342.65 million internet
subscribers at the end of March, 2016. Tamil Nadu had 28.01 million subscribers,
while its neighbours Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka had 24.87 million and 22.63
million, respectively.

a. Road

• There are 28 national highways in the State, covering a total distance of 5,036 km.
• The State has a total road length of 167,000 km, of which 60,628 km are
maintained by Highways Department.
• It ranks second in India with a share of over 20% in total road projects under
operation in the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

b. Rail

• Tamil Nadu has a well-developed rail network as part of Southern Railway,

Headquartered at Chennai.
• Tamil Nadu has a total railway track length of 6,693 km and there are 690 railway
stations in the state.
• Chennai has a well – established Suburban Railway network, a Mass Rapid
Transport System and is currently developing a Metro system, with its first
underground stretch operational since May 2017.

c. Air

• Tamil Nadu has four major international airports.

• Chennai International Airport is currently the third largest airport in India after
Mumbai and Delhi.
• Other International airports in Tamil Nadu include,

1. Coimbatore International Airport

2. Madurai International Airport and

3. Tiruchirapalli International Airport

• It also has domestic airports at Tuticorin, Salem and Madurai which connect
several parts of the country.

9
 • Increased industrial activity has given rise to an increase in passenger traffic as well
as freight movement which has been growing at over 18 per cent per year.

d. Ports

• Tamil Nadu has three major ports ; one each at Chennai, Ennore and Tuticorin as
well as intermediate port in Nagapattinam and 23 minor ports.
• The ports are currently capable of handling over 73 million metric tonnes of cargo
annually (24 per cent share of India). All the minor ports are managed by the Tamil
Nadu Maritime Board, Chennai Port. This is an artificial harbour and the second
principal port in the country for handling containers.
• It is currently being upgraded to have a dedicated terminal for cars capable of
handling 4,00,000 vehicles.
• Ennore Port was recently converted from an intermediate port to a major port and
handles all the coal and ore traffic in Tamil Nadu.

Tourism

• Tamil Nadu has since ancient past been a hub for tourism. In recent years, the state
has emerged as one of the leading tourist destinations for both domestic and
foreign tourists.
• Tourism in Tamil Nadu is promoted by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development
Corporation (TTDC), a Government of Tamil Nadu undertaking.
• The State currently ranks the highest among Indian States with about 25 crore
arrivals (in 2013). The annual growth rate of this industry stood at 16 per cent.
Approximately 28 lakh foreign and 11 crore domestic tourists visit the state.

Unemployment and Poverty

a. Unemployment

• National average of unemployment rate stands at 50 and Tamil Nadu ranks 22nd
with unemployment rate of 42 per 1000.
• There are different kinds of unemployment with different economic implications.

b. Poverty

• Tamil Nadu is one of India’s richest states since 1994, the state has seen a steady
decline in poverty.
• Today, Tamil Nadu has lower levels of poverty than most other states in the
country. After 2005, Tamil Nadu was among India’s fastest growing states, with
growth being driven mainly by services.

10
Conclusion

• The Tamil Nadu economy which is not rich in natural resources has good record of
agricultural growth, industrial progress, infrastructural development and good
record of robust growth of service sector especially banking, education, transport
and tourism. It occupies top three ranks in health index, education, development
of MSMEs.
• It has a good record of poverty alleviation and employment generation. However,
India in general and Tamil Nadu in particular need to work more to eliminate
female foeticide, reduce the population living in slums, sleeping on roadsides,
beggers and rag pickers. Development is meaningless as long as the above eyesore
continues.

Population Growth in Tamil Nadu : At a Glance (2011 Census)

• Total Population 72138958

• Male 36158871

• Female 35980087

• Crude birth rate (per thousand) 15.7

• Crude death rate (per thousand) 7.4

• Growth Rate (per thousand) 8.3

• Districts with Highest Population (Chennai, Kancheepuram, Vellore and

Thiruvallur)

• Districts with Lowest Population (Perambalur, The Nilgiris, Ariyalur and

Theni)

• Population Density (per sq. km) 555 (2011), 480 (2001)

• Maximum Density Chennai (26903); Kanyakumari (1106)

• Minimum Density The Nilgiris (288); Thiruchirappalli (602)

• Sex Ratio (per 1000 males) 995 females (2011)

987 females (2001)

• District with Highest Sex Ratio The Nilgiris (1041 females)

Thanjavur (1031 females)

• District with Lowest Sex Ratio Theni (900 females)

Dharmapuri (946 females)

• Child Sex Ratio (0-6 age group) 946 female children (2011)

11
 942 female children (2001)

• District with Highest Child Sex Ratio The Nilgiris (985); Kanyakumari (964)

• District with Lowes Child Sex Ratio Cuddalore (896); Ariyalur (897)

• Literacy Rate 80.33% (2011)

73.45% (2001)

• Male Literacy 86.81% (2011)

82.33% (2001)

• Female Literacy 73.86% (2011)

64.55% (2001)

• District with Highest Literacy Kanyakumari (92.14%); Chennai (90.33%)

• District with Lowest Literacy Dharmapuri (64.71%); Ariyalur 971.99%)

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 Government of Tamilnadu
Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group I, II & IIA Prelims Exam

Subject : Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Topic : e-Governance in Tamil Nadu

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The Department of Employment and Training has prepared the TNPSC Group I, II &
IIA Preliminary Exam study material in the form of e-content for the benefit of Competitive
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It is a cost-free service provided to the job seekers who are preparing for the
Competitive Exams.

Commissioner,
Department of Employment and Training.
 s-GOVERNANCE IN TAMIL NADU
Vision

To fulfill the vision of Good Governance using the tools that information technology provides,
such that working within Government becomes transparent and efficient with concomitant
transparency and efficiency in delivery of services to our Citizens.

Mission

The mission of TNeGA is to improve the quality of life of our Citizens through efficient delivery
of Government Services using the tools of information Technology, and to create cost effective,
scalable solutions for Governance, making full use of Emerging Technologies like Block chain,
Al(Artificial intelligence), IoT, Drones, Data Analytics, AR/VR, etc.

Objective

• To be the Chief Technology and Innovation Organisation for the Government of Tamil
Nadu.
• To transform Governance in every Government Institution of Tamil Nadu, such that
these institutions become paperless, hassle free, transparent and free of physical touch
points.
• Transformation of the business of Government to make the experience quick and
pleasant for all stakeholders.
• Act as a ‘force multiplier’ by building the soft infrastructure for smart Governance,
improving competitiveness of the State economy and making the State future ready.
• Handholding and supporting Government Department and Agencies in meeting their
information Technology needs.
• Identifying the common service needs of various Government Departments and
providing a cost effective and efficient solution.
• Proactively engaging with Government Departments, NGOs and International
Organizations and institutions engaged in program and objectives similar to TNeGA, in
developing a shared vision of Governance.
• Creating a vibrant ecosystem of academic institutions, research organizations, startups,
funding agencies and eminent individuals, to innovate, design and implement solutions
for pressing Governance issues.
• Capacity Building of all Government employees at all levels in Information Technology
to enable efficiency in Governance.
• Organize workshops, seminars, conferences on e-Governance.

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 • Publish research papers, journals, workshop proceedings, newsletters etc. at National
and International forums.

Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency

Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA), as a State Nodal Agency has been formed to support
and drive all e-Governance initiative of the Government of Tamil Nadu. TNeGA is implementing
various e-Governance projects with the objective of making all Government services, wherever
feasible and accessible to the common man in an efficient and transparent manner.

Fulfill the Vision

Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency aims to fulfill the Vision, Through use of Information
Technology in Governance and delivery of services to public at their doorsteps. This e-
Governance Agency was formed under the Information Technology Department, Government
of Tamil Nadu to function as an intrinsic arm of the Government with a mandate to drive e-
Governance in the State. This agency has been registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Act.
The Policy is to achieve the vision of integrated service delivery to the Citizen at the nearest
location at an affordable cost. The achieve this, a simple front end delivery mechanism, a robust
back-end computerization, connectivity with adequate bandwidth (TNSWAN) and support
infrastructure (SDC, SSDG, State Portal and other stakeholders) along with the application
software integrated with the required MIS is absolutely necessary.

Accessible Delivery Channels

Tamil Nadu shall harness Information Communication Technology continuously and

continually evolve the e-Governance. The services are delivered to the citizens through
convenient and easily accessible delivery channels / web enabled media, ensuring efficiency,
transparency and reliability at affordable costs and to make all citizens an integral part of the
ever growing knowledge society and accomplish quality living.

National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)

The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) envisions mechanism to reach the service delivery to
the Citizens. Tamil Nadu, even before the formulation of NeGP, has implemented many e-
Governance Projects especially in the land Records, Registration, Transport departments etc.
Tamil Nadu has in fact progressively aligned its entire e-Governance plan in consonance with
NeGP, ever since its formulation in Many 2006 by the Government of India.

Common Service Centres

TNeGA has implemented G2C projects such as e-District, Common Service Centres (CSCs) / e-
Sevai Centres in Rural and Urban areas, Capacity Building (CB) in Information and

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Communication Technology (ICT) & Tools, Tamil Nadu Geographical Information System
(TNGIS), State Residence Data Hub (SRDH), State Services Delivery Gateway (SSDG).

Tamil Nadu e-Governance Policy

About :

Tamil Nadu Government launched an e-governance policy that would enable public,
government and commercial establishments get all it’s services through digital mode.

Aim :

‘The policy aims to provide all government services through digital mode and also through
common service centres and mobile applications under the Government’s Vision 2023 plan.

Features :

Chief Minister K. Palaniswamy released the e-Governance policy 2017 booklet. The Vision 2023
document was released by the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in March 2012 aiming to make
the State ‘numero uno’ in the country and set a target of 11 per cent growth in GSDP by 2023.

• The e-Governance policy would also have guidelines to provide a ‘comprehensive IT

infrastructure’ for the digital initiatives taken by the government.
• Noting that the drive would enhance integration of various government departments, it
claimed this move would result in increase in production and reduce expenses on
computer maintenance.

Establishing an integrated environment for delivering seamless

• Government to Citizens (GSC)

• Government to Employee (GSE)
• Government to Government (G2G) and
• Government to Business (GSB)

In a cost-effective manner, besides increasing productivity levels within government are some
of the key objectives of the policy.

State-level apex committee

State-level apex committee for e-Governance headed by the Chief Secretary would be formed for
periodic review of the implementation of the policy and would provide necessary guidelines for
its implementation.

‘Considering the mobile phone penetration among the people, all departments would ensure
that their applications are compatible to mobile access and utilize the common mobile

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infrastructure provided by Government of India and the State Government like Mobile Service
Delivery Gateway (MSDG) etc. Mobile applications will be developed in English and Tamil
Language using open standards, to the extent possible. The State Portal and Government
Departmental Portals will be made ‘mobile compliant’ in due course,’ the policy said.

The policy made it clear that the departments would ensure use of Open Source and Open
Standard technologies for software development, unless the use of proprietary technology is
unavoidable. This would enable respective departments to prevent vendor lock-in, unnecessary
cost on user licences and long -term cost liabilities.

Project Management Information System

The policy also envisaged setting up of Knowledge Management Facility that would maintain
Project Management Information System (PMIS) related to e-Governance projects in the State.
Public Private Partnership would be encouraged in e-Governance projects in the State to the
extent possible. Social media will be leveraged to increase the awareness on delivery of services
to citizens.

To promote paperless office and to increase the efficiency of office work, e-Office Application
will be implemented in all government offices throughout the State. Steps will be taken to ensure
that Government files/documents/records are made available in digitized form and are easily
accessible to those authorized for access. To enable proper identification and authentication of
electronic transactions, use of digital signatures / e-Sign facility for online processing would be
encouraged.

State Resident Data Hub (SRDH), an integrated framework which provides a unique centralized
database of citizens with Aadhaar linkage would be integrated with all e-Governance
applications wherever possible. The State would also come up with a framework for using
Aadhaar for the State government schemes, the policy said.

Government Allocation :

The policy has a provision for the government to allocate 0.5 per cent of the total funds in a
financial year for the digital initiatives and later increase it to three per cent in the next five years
in a phased manner.

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